IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 58, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE
BOATS." A communication from abroad by Albert Lintonner Shears, of
Flint, Genesee County, and William Spencer Driggs, of East Saginaw,
Saginaw County, both in the State of Michigan, United States of
America.
Sealed the 24th September 1867, and dated the 26th April 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th April 1867.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates,-
First, to forming upon the inner sides of the hull of a boat one or more
water scuppers communicating at their upper ends with the inner portion of
the boat, and at their lower ends with the water in which the boat is placed,
whereby, when the water dashes or flows over the sides of the boat it will
immediately pass out of the same through the scuppers without the necessity of

page_text: bailing, the side pieces forming the said scuppers bracing and strengthening
the hull.
Secondly, in forming air chambers under the thwarts of the boat, extending
up its sides as high as the gunwales, if so desired, or at least sufficiently bigh
to prevent the boat from sinking so far in the water as not to let the water
escape therefrom through its scuppers when it is overflowed as described, the
said chambers also giving room for storage of provisions, clothing, and other
articles, and in case of necessity giving shelter to the occupants of the boat
from a storm, as well as affording a convenient place for sleeping, entrance
being had to the same by raising the seats of the boat, which are so arranged
as to admit of the same, and can be closed with sufficient tightness to prevent
the entrance of water therein, and fresh air being fed to the same through
any suitable arrangement of air pipes communicating therewith and with the
external air.
Thirdly, in placing at or near the centre of the boat a water tank in which
water is inserted to be used for drinking purposes, it serving also as ballast
for the boat to balance it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st October 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence that I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PRO UMENTS IN LIFE BOATS," a communication to me from abroad by Albert
Lintonner Shears, of Flint, Genesee County, and William Spencer Driggs,

page_text: of East Saginaw, Saginaw County, both in the State of Michigan, United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates,--
First, in forming upon the inner sides of the hull of a boat one or more
water scuppers communicating at their upper ends with the inner portion of
the boat, and at their lower ends with the water in which the boat is placed,
whereby when the water dashes or flows over the sides of the boat it will
immediately pass out of the same through the scuppers without the necessity of
bailing, the side pieces forming the said scuppers bracing and strengthening the
bull.
Secondly, in forming air chambers under the thwarts of the boat extending
up its sides as high as the gunwales if so desired, or at least sufficiently high to
prevent the boat from sinking so far in the water as not to let the water escape
therefrom through its scuppers when it is overflowed as described, the said
chambers also giving room for storage of provisions, clothing, and other
merchandize, and in case of necessity giving shelter to the occupants of the
boat from a storm, as well as affording a convenient place for sleeping, entrance
being had to the same by raising the seats of the boat, which are so arranged
as to admit of the same, and can be closed with sufficient tightness to prevent the
entrance of water therein, and fresh air being fed to the same through any suitable
arrangement of air pipes communicating therewith and with the external air.
Thirdly, in placing at or near the centre of the boat a water tank in which
water is inserted to be used for drinking purposes, it serving also as ballast for
the boat to balance it.
In the accompanying Plate of Drawings these improvements are represented,
Figure 1 being a longitudinal vertical section through the centre of the
boat, Figure 2 a partial plan or top view of a portion of the same, and
Figure 3 a transverse vertical section in plane of line x, x, Figure 1.

page_text: a, a, represents the outside of the boat; b, its hull; c, keel; d, gunwales;
f, f, deck of boat provided with seats or thwarts 9, 9, 9, 9, at proper distances
apart; h, rail extending around the gunwales of the boat supported at inter-
mediate points by stanchions 1, 1; m, m, a series of water scuppers upon each
side of the boat extending along and down the inside of the hull formed by
side and top pieces n, n, and o, which serves also as braces for strengthening
the boat. The scuppers are open at their lower ends p, p, communicating
with the water surrounding the boat, and at their upper ends q, q, with the
spacer of the boat above its deck, and have slides s, s, for opening and closing
the same at pleasure. The seats 9, 9, 9, are each hinged one side, as seen
at t, t, in Figure 1, and have hooks u, u, and fixed staples w, w, for fastening
the same when desired. By raising the seats communication is had with the
interior air chambers y, y, under the deck, and which may extend up the sides
of the boat either to the gunwales d, d, or sufficiently to keep the boat in such
a position when in the water that the upper openings of the water scuppers
shall be above the level of the water. In the air chambers y, y, provisions,
clothing, and other merchandize may be stowed away in the compartments 2, 3,
and in storms the occupants of the boat can retire there for shelter, as well
also for sleep, fresh air being allowed to enter the same by means of any proper
arranged air tubes connected with them and communicating with the external
air. a, a', water tank placed at or near the centre of the boat for holding
fresh water to be used for drinking purposes provided with a slide b' for
opening or closing the same at pleasure. This water tank when filled also
serves as a ballast for the boat to balance and to steady it.
In case of a heavy sea causing the waves to dash over the sides of the boat,
filling it with water, it immediately flows out of the same through the water
scuppers arranged as above described without the necessity of baling, the
advantages of which are evident, the seats being made water-tight at their
joints so as to prevent the entrance of water to the air chambers below the
deck, and having suitable devices upon the inside thereof that they can also be
made water-tight from the inside of the chambers. By forming the interior of the
boat with air-tight compartments, as described, it is evident that it cannot pos-
sibly be swamped, as they impart sufficient buoyancy to it to entirely prevent it,
and also that its strength or stiffness is not in the least impaired thereby. Bull's
eyes or other proper glasses can be inserted in any suitable positions in the
deck to impart light to the interior air chambers, and suitable sockets can also
be made at the proper points in the boat for the insertion of masts when
desired, they being made in sections and stowed away in the air chambers of
the boat when not in use.

page_text: Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, constructing a life boat with water scuppers extending from its deck to
its water line, whether above or more or less below when such scuppers are
open or susceptible of being opened at each end, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
Secondly, constructing the water scuppers to the life boat along and in
combination with the sides of the boat, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Thirdly, constructing a life boat with air chambers, whether one or more,
along its sides, and with such chambers extended up or nearly so to the gunwale
of the boat, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fourthly, so constructing the deck to the life boat that while it can be
opened for entering the air chambers thereof or passing out of the same,
for removing anything therefrom, or for any other desired purpose, it can be
readily closed and made air-tight, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Fifthly, the general arrangement of the boat herein described, the same
consisting of the air chambers or spaces for storage of provisions or other
merchandize, water scuppers, and thwarts susceptible of being raised or lowered
at pleasure for communication with the air chambers of the boat, arranged
together and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)