Most of the patents prior to 1836 were lost in the Dec. 1836 fire. Only about 2,000 of the almost 10,000 documents were recovered. Little is known about this patent. Only the patent drawing is available. This patent is in the database for reference only.

These inclined plane for boats were used on the Morris Canal.

Description from the Journal of the Franklin Institute Vol. 6 1830 pg. 30.

For Raising Boats from one Level to another, on Canals, by means of inclined planes; Ephraim Morris, Bloomfield, Sussex county, New Jersey, October 13.

The design is to draw a cradle, or car, containing a boat, up an inclined plane, by the power of water wheels. As this is not new, the patent is taken for several improvements which are specified, but which cannot well be described in words. Hitherto the inclined planes which have been constructed have disappointed the anticipations of their inventors; and, although we have often been told of perfect success in newly constructed works of this kind, the searching operator, time, has pointed out great defects, and has still left a good inclined plane, a desideratum. We are not aware that the plan now proposed oilers any striking novelty, but should it remove the difficulties experienced in existing structures, its merits would be of a high order.

(To be filled in.)

• USPTO pdf
• Morris Canal
• Bloomfield-Ephaim Morris house & mill