United States Patent 30 " 166

2,883,752
Patented Apr. 28, 1959
2

A crossarm 20 is hinged on base 18 by means of a pair

of hinge elements'21 atthe ends of crossarr'n 20, a sec

2,883,752
CENTERING BATTEN FORDRYDOCKING sans
Joseph A. Oakley, Garden City, N .Y.
Application June 24, 1957, Serial No. 667,726
16 Claims. (Cl. 33-74)

(Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266)

ond pair of mating hinge elements 22 o'nbasels, and a

hinge pin 23. The hinge 9111,23 forms an axis of rota
tion that is horizontal and that is at rightangles to keel
line 15. Fixed to crossarm 20 and extendingjat a right
angle therefrom is a rod 24 similar tova surveyors level
ing rod that is reinforced by apair of braces 25. Rod
24 is of buoyant construction and preferably is'made of
10 wood. Inscribed on rod,24> are foot markings 26v'for in
dicating the draft of a ship relative 'to the top of block 11.

Fastened on the back of rod 24 is a pair of U-brackets

31 through which is adapted to slide an extension 32
that can be adjusted upward above the top ofrod 24 for
15 indicating depths greater than those shown on rod v24.
The invention described herein may be manufactured
Foot markings 33 are inscribed on extension 32. A
and used by or for the Government of the United States
wing nut 34 serves to lock extension '32 in selected posi

of America for governmental purposes without the pay

tion on rod 24.

ment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention concerns a device for indicat

In the arrangement shown, in Fig. 2_ the drydock has

an enclosure wall, 34 with an open end 35, normally
closed by a gate 36 that is movable away from closed

ing the location of a submerged reference. In particular

the invention concerns a drydock marker for indicating

position, while the, chamber 37, of thedrydock is ?lled

the location of a submerged keel line established by keel

blocks with respect to which a docked ship must be in

with water, to permit a vessel such as indicated in outline

by
the dash lines 38, to be ?oated into the chamber 37.
alignment.
25 The gate is returned to closed position after the vessel
In preparing to drydock a ship it is conventional to

empty the drydock of water and to arrange upon the bot

tom a series of spaced pier blocks that form a cradle
upon which the ships bottom will rest.v After the pier
blocks are positioned the drydock is ?ooded and the 30

ship is brought in and set at its approximate location

over the blocks.

has been ?oated fully into the chamber 37. The special
keel blocks 11 with indicators are moved, while the diy
dock is empty of water, into positions along the floor
of the chamber 37 just beyond but close to the. desired
ends of the vessel when the, vessel while ?oating has

been oriented into proper position to settle, upon remov

This approximate location is conven

ing the water from chamber 37, upontheother or regu

tionally established by the use of forward and after cen

lar pier blocks 39 that have been adjusted along the ?oor

tering chains that stretch across the dock from one side

chamber 37 into a__'sele\cte,d pattern to support the type

to the other. Such chains have the disadvantage of re 35 of
and size of the particular vessel.
.
quiring considerable time to be set up and the further dis
In operation the drydock is emptied of water in prepa
advantage that neither centering chain can be set up

ration for docking of a ship. A series of spaced pier

blocks 39 are then arranged upon the bottom of the dry
dock in a selected pattern to form a cradle for the ship.
40 Keel blocklll is_ placed in keel line position at the bow
a keel block, located at the prospective keel line, so that
or stern and marker. 17 is mounted thereoniand fastened
the free end of the marker can ?oat upward and project

until the ship has entered drydock.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages
by providing a buoyant marker hingeable at one endto

by dogs 19., If desired, separate keel blocks 11 can be

above the water level to indicate the location of the sub
located in keel line position, one at. the bow andanother
merged keel line established by the keelblock.
An object of the invention is to providea device for 45 at the stern as shown in Fig. 2. The indicator of the
rear block 11 shouldubel held down. until after the ship
indicating the location of a submerged reference.
has been ?oated approximately into desired position.
Another object is to provide a drydock marker for in
With the drydock emptynrod 24 liesin a substantially
dicating the locationof a submerged keel line established
horizontal position as shown in broken lines on the
by keel blocks with respect to which a docked ship must
drawing. If the ships draft is greater than the markings
be in alignment.

50
26 on rod 24, extension 32 is pulled out to an appropri
Other objects and many of the attendant advantages
ate position and wing nut 34 is tightened. The drydock
of this invention will be readily appreciated as thersame
is then ?ooded and as the water surface rises the buoyancy
becomes better understood by reference to the following
of rod 24 of the front blockll causes its free end to ?oat
detailed description when considered in connection with
upward
so that rod 24 starts erectingabout the axis
55
the accompanying drawing wherein:
formed by hinge pin 23, Finally rod 24 is in vertical
Fig. l is a perspective of an indicating device con
position with its free end projecting above the water
structed in accordance with the invention and illustrat
surface. By observing foot markings 26 and. 33 the
ing one embodiment thereof; and
dock is ?ooded to a depth exceeding the draft of the
Fig. 2 is a plan in miniature of a drydock having there
ship to be docked.
_
in sighting indicating devices embodying the invention, 60 The ship is then brought into the drydock andset at
such as shown-in Fig. 1 for example, arranged therein
its approximate location after which rod24 on the/rear
in positions for use, and illustrating diagrammatically
most block 11 is released. By observing orsighting on
the manner in which the sighting devices may be used
the shipywith one or both of the vertical rods 24 the dock.
to orient a ?oating vessel in the drydock in proper posi
ing crew can align the ships keel with the keel, line 15.
65
tion over the pier block.
7
H
The ship is then landed on the pier blocks as the dock is

In the drawing there is shown aconventional keel

bbdy 13 842d a W065i can 14- Thepropbsed keelline '15...
which is shown in broken lines extends longitudinally of

pumpeddry. Duringthis operation, after the ship lands

block 11 formed of aewood crushing slab v12, arconcrete

block 171.

Positioned on top of cap 14. isa marker 17 having. a

base, 18 that is fastened securely to cap.14 by dogs 19.

on the blocks, the free ends of rods 24 gradually ?oat

downward until markers 17' are in substantially horizontal
70

positions when the dock'is empty.

I p

Buoyant markers 17 have the advantage, that they can

be arranged in place before the dock is ?ooded, and hence
before the ship-is brought into the dock. In contrast when

' 2,888,752

3
using conventional centering chains neither the forward

mined place on a submergible pier block, said device com

nor the after chain can be hung in place across the dock

prising said pier block, a buoyant rod, and hinge means

until after ?ooding and after the ship has entered the dry
dock. Markers 17 have the further advantage that they

connecting said rod at one end to the pier block for swing
ing movement in one arcuate path only between an upright

are yieldable and hence are not easily broken.

position and an approximately horizontal position, the

length of said rod being greater than the expected depth

Thus if

a buoyant marker 17 should be rammed by the ship being

docked or by the docking rowboats, the marker would

of water above said pier block, so that as the water sur

face rises said rod can swing upwardly with the rising
merely swing about its hinge axis out of the way and then
?oat back into position after the ramming.
water into a vertical position with the free end of the rod
If desired, either or both of the buoyant markers 17 10 always above the water surface and when upright above
the predetermined place.
may be secured in horizontal position by a line (not

4. In a drydock having a submergible pier block, a

device for visibly indicating above the water surface the

shown) secured to the upper level of the drydock prior

to ?ooding to avoid possible damage by the ship or ships
when being brought into the drydock. After the ship
enters the drydock and has been placed in approximate
position over the keel blocks 11, the securing lines may

location of a predetermined place on the submergible pier

block, said device comprising a buoyant rod, a hinge
having a horizontal axis, means for securing one end of

be cut to release the buoyant markers 17 so they can

said rod to one element of said hinge and means for

erect into position for ?nal alignment of the ship.

Also, if desired, a line (not shown) may be extended

securing the other element of said hinge to the pier

from the top of either or both of the buoyant markers 17

to the ship so that the markers 17 can be held in vertical
position until the ship lands on the pier blocks.
Markers 17 have also the advantage of making it easy
to arrange many small ships and barges in a large graving

swing upwardly into vertical position with the free end

of the rod being above the water surface and being above
the predetermined place on the submerged pier block.
5. In a drydock having a pier block adapted for align

block, whereby as the water surface rises said rod can

ment with the centerline of a ships bottom, a device

dock. By using the buoyant marker the ships do not

for visibly indicating above the water surface the loca

tion of the submergible centerline at the pier block, said
device comprising a buoyant rod, a hinge having a ?xed

have to be docked on the centerline of the dock but can

be placed at a distance from and an angle to the dock

centerline.
Buoyant markers 17 can also be set up in much less
time than is required with conventional centering chains.
Buoyant markers 17 may be used in all types of docking

axis, said hinge being positioned with its axis horizontal

and at right angles to the centerline, means for securing
one end of said rod to one element of said hinge and

means for securing the other element of said hinge to the

pier block, whereby as the water surface rises said rod
can swing upwardly in an are included in the vertical
plane that also includes the centerline with the free end
of the rod above the water surface and being above

operations and in all types of docks; for example, graving

docks, marine railways and ?oating drydocks.

Obviously many modi?cations and variations of the

present invention are possible in the light of the above
teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within
the submerged centerline.
the scope of the appended claims the invention may be
6. The device in claim 5 in which said rod is similar
practiced otherwise than as speci?cally described.
to a surveyors leveling rod and includes an adjustable
I claim:
extension, and means for locking said extension in selected
1. A device for visibly indicating above the liquid sur 40 position.
face in a ?oodable drydock having a floor the location of
7. The device in claim 5 in combination with depth
a predetermined reference line at a submergible part of
markings upon said rod for indicating the draft of a ship
the drydock by which a ?oating ship may be oriented
resting upon the pier block.
accurately in said drydock, said device comprising a
8. A device for aiding the orientation of a vessel
movable weight which may be moved into different posi
entering a drydock over a group of pier blocks, which
tions over said ?oor of the drydock and having said refer
comprises a portable base that can be placed in the dry
ence line, a buoyant element, and means for connecting
dock in a position spaced lengthwise beyond but adjacent
said element at one end to said weight for movement in

to an end of a vessel within the drydock when the vessel

a path parallel to a predetermined plane of the base and

is properly positioned over the group of blocks, said base

having greater density than water, and an indicating mem
ber articulately connected to said base block for move
ment thereon into an upright position thereover, said
member being ?oatable in water in which it may be
placed into said upright position to serve as a sighting
reference element for aid in orienting the vessel into the
position desired for it over said group of pier blocks on
which it is to be supported when Water is removed from
the drydock and the vessel settles on said group of blocks,

adapted to be aligned with said reference line, whereby

as the liquid surface rises in said drydock said element
will move upwardly, the length of said element being
greater than the depth of said liquid with the free end of
the element extending above the liquid surface to con
tinuously indicate the location of the submerged predeter
mined reference line at all depths of liquid in said drydock
and so that as the liquid surface lowers said element can

move downwardly by gravity.

2. A device for visibly indicating above the water sur
face in a ?oodable water basin the location of a predeter

mined reference line at a submergible part of the drydock

by which a ship ?oating in said drydock may be oriented
with respect to a desired part of the basin, said device
comprising a base having said reference line, an approxi
mately rigid buoyant rod and means for articulately con
necting said rod at one end to said base solely for move

ment between an upright position and an approximate

horizontal one, in a path parallel to a predetermined ver

60

said member having a length from said special block

greater than the maximum expected depth of water above
said special block, whereby when said member is up
right in the water its top will be visible as a sighting ref
erence to guide one in orienting said vessel in the water
of the drydock into the desired position over said group
of blocks.
9. A drydock into the water of which a vessel may
be ?oated and then the water removed to expose the

entire hull of the vessel, which comprises an enclosure

having an opening in a side wall thereof normally closed
said reference line, so that as the water surface rises and 70 by a movable gate, and through which opening said vessel
falls the free end of said rod will appear above the water
may be ?oated into said enclosure while the gate is open,
surface and indicate the location of the submerged pre
a group of pier blocks arranged in a selected pattern
determined reference line.
along the bottom of said enclosure in positions to sup
3. A device for visibly indicating above the water sur
port the hull of a vessel within the enclosure when the
face in a ?oodable drydock the location of a predeten
enclosure is emptied of water, and a sighting reference

tical plane of the base and adapted to be aligned with.

2,888,762

member supported by said enclosure adjacent to the bot

a position in which it will be accurately located in a

selected position over said group of blocks.
11. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said
member is a slender ?oatable rod hinged to the base

tom of said enclosure and spaced in a direction length

wise of the vessel beyond and away from an end of a

vessel that is properly positioned over said blocks, said

member being movable by the buoyancy thereon of water
in said enclosure into an upright position in the water
adjacent to said end of the vessel, and having a vertical
length su?icient to project above the water level in said

for movement thereon about a horizontal axis.

12. The drydock as set forth in claim 9 wherein said

member is guided for movement solely in a direction
that is within an upright plane parallel to the length
of the vessel.
enclosure when the vessel was ?oated in, and serve as
13. The device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said
a sighting means by which the ?oating vessel may be 10
base block rests by gravity on the bottom of the drydock
properly oriented over said blocks.
and is movable on said bottom into selected positions
10. A device for use as a guide in orienting a vessel
for use in orienting di?erent types and sizes of vessels in
in a drydock, into which it has been ?oated, over a
proper positions for support on said group of blocks.
group of pier blocks arranged in a selected pattern on the
14. The device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said
?oor of the drydock and upon which the vessel is ex 15
member is hinged to said base block for movement there
pected to rest when the drydock is emptied of said water,
on solely in a direction that is within an upright plane
which comprises a base having a weight adequate to keep
parallel to the length of the ship.
it on said drydock floor when the drydock is ?lled with
15. The device as set forth in claim 13, and wherein
water, and movable along said drydock ?oor into a
selected position that will be just beyond, but adjacent to, 20 said member is hinged to said base block for movement
thereon solely in a direction that is within an upright plane
the end of any vessel ?oating in said drydock in a
parallel to the length of the ship.
position to settle properly on said group of blocks when
16. The drydock as set forth in claim 9, having two
the dryclock is emptied of said water, and a ?oatable
of said reference members on the ?oor of said enclosure
substantially non-?exible member articulately connected
to said base and movable relatively thereto by ?oating 25 one for use at each end of said vessel.
when the drydock is ?lled with water, into an upright
References Cited in the ?le of this patent
position and having a length from said base adequate,
when upright, to extend above the level of the water in
UNITED STATES PATENTS
said drydock, whereby as the vessel is ?oated into said
549,281
Timmans ____________ .._ Nov. 5, 1895
drydock one may, by observing the position of the vessel 30

with respect to said upright member, guide the ship into