24 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



it is out into water deep enough to allow a vessel to pass ovei' it. The stem 

 or nose of the vessel is hauled up into the guide on the head of the cradle, 

 which is simply a pair of iron bai's bent to the proper shape and bolted on to 

 the cradle. The stern of the vessel being hauled into its proper place, the keel is 

 over the centre of the carriage ; the back guides are then lifted up to secure the 

 vessel in its place. The back guides are strong iron bars, working separately 

 on a 4 in. pin, passing through strong uprights bolted to the side of the 

 longitudinal beams at such distances as may be required to suit the length of 

 a vessel. So soon as a vessel is thus fixed in position, the cradle is hauled up 

 until the keel rests its whole length on the cradle, and the bilge blocks being 

 then pulled under the vessel's bottom she is hauled up out of the water, the 

 palls being dropped so soon as the bilge blocks are pulled into their projter 

 position. These palls prevent a vessel running back into the water in the 

 event of its being necessary, from any cause, to take the weight off the 

 machinei-y, and also serve to keep the cradle in its place when uj) on the ways. 



To launch a vessel, the cradle is hauled up sufficiently to allow the palls to 

 be lifted. It is then lowered, by means of the large chain, conveniently near 

 to the water's edge ; the large chain is then released, and the cradle and vessel 

 allowed to run out by their own impetus, taking, of course, the small chain. 

 The mode of releasing the large chain is by knocking the pin out of the 

 shackle which secui'es the return end when passed round the wheel at the 

 head of the carriage, the pin being made conical for the purpose. The impetus 

 caused by running out generally carries the vessel clear of the cradle, but if, 

 from any cause, the vessel does not run out sufficiently fast to clear the cradle, 

 the small chain serves to haul it into deeper water to clear it, and, the engine 

 being reversed, the small chain hauls up the cradle out of the water. 



It is sometimes required to raise a second vessel when the cradle is 

 occupied. This is effected by blocking the vessel already up off the cradle. 

 To do this wooden blocks are placed under the vessel between all the bilge 

 beams of the cradle, and the weight of the vessel taken off the cradle by 

 wedging these blocks up tightly. To allow the cradle to be removed, and to 

 clear the keel of any vessel requiring it, small pieces of wood, 2 in. thick, are 

 nailed on to the keel blocks on the centre longitudinal beam before a vessel is 

 taken up. When a vessel is tightly wedged up on to the wooden blocks, as 

 described, these small pieces are split out, leaving a space between the keel of 

 the vessel and the cradle. The bilge beams are i-emoved by knocking out the 

 wedges and releasing the ends from the teeth on the centre beam, and taking 

 out the cotter pins on the outer longitudinals. The bottom of the vessel being 

 thus cleared of the cradle, it is hauled out from under by means of the 

 small chain ; the bilge beams, etc., are then replaced in position, and the 

 cradle lowered into the water in the usual way, the chains working under the 



