IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY APPARATUS FOR DETACHING AND ATTACHING SHIPS' BOATS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Linkleter, of Tynemouth in the County of
Northumberland, Salvage Contractor for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN SAFETY APPARATUS FOR DETACHING AND ATTACHING SHIPS' BOATS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Linkleter at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd May 1883.
-
JAMES LINKLETER of Tynemouth, in the County of Northumberland, Salvage
Contractor "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY APPARATUS FOR DETACHING AND ATTACHING
SHIPS BOATS
"
:
My invention relates to certain appliances by means of which a boat, hanging
from the "davits," may be safely and instantly detached either automatically, by
contact with the water, or at any point in lowering from the "davits," by hand
gear, operated from on board the boat, or it may be operated from the deck of ship;
and by which also the boat, when brought back alongside ship, can be safely.
attached to the tackle blocks to be hoisted out of the water. To each of the
tackle blocks of the "davits " I attach a tumbling hook the tail pieces of which
have each a wire or other cord, passing from it to a slip-hook to which the cords
are made fast. This slip-hook has a safety check of very simple kind by which it
is prevented slipping the cords till required to do so by the hand line being pulled.
When the boat is hanging in the "davits" the tumbling hooks have hold of an
eye bolt in the "thwart" at each end, the weight of the boat. keeping, the cords
stretched between the tail pieces and the slip hook, but when the hand line is pulled
the slip-hook disengages one cord and, the other being also now free, the tumbling
hooks fall over by the weight of the boat which drops into the water: The same
action takes place automatically the moment the boat is water borne at either end;
the high end detaching and the boat drops level but should one end of the boat
reach the water, in a position that it will sink end first, by accident with the tackle
then it will not detach. When the boat is near enough the water for a wave to
strike one end both ends will instantly detach as one hook cannot hold on without

page_text: the other. When the boat is in the water all the gear is left attached to the tackle
blocks no part of it going with the boat and it is always exposed to inspection.
When the boat returns alongside the gear is ready for attaching to the eye bolts
and it is not possible to attach one hook without the other as either will slip out
of the eye bolt until both are attached so that there is no danger of the boat!
being lifted over end and the crew thrown out as has frequently been the case by
other gear.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Linkleter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd November
1883.
JAMES LINKLETER of Tynemouth in the County of Northumberland Salvage
Contractor IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY APPARATUS FOR DETACHING AND ATTACHING
SHIPS' BOATS
.
My invention relates to certain appliances by means of which a boat hanging
from the "davits" may be safely and instantly detached either automatically, by
contact with the water, or at any point in lowering from the "davits" by hand
gear, operated from on board the boat, or it may be operated from the deck of ship;
and by which also the boat, when brought back alongside ship can be safely
attached to the tackle blocks to be hoisted out of the water. To each of the
lower tackle blocks of the "davits" I attach a tumbling hook the tail pieces of which
hooks have each a wire or other cord, passing from it to a slip hook to which the
cords are made fast. This slip-hook has a safety check of very, simple kind by which
it is prevented slipping the cords till required to do so by the hand line forming the
check being pulled. When the boat is hanging in the "davits" the tumbling books
have hold of an eye bolt in the "thwart" or any other suitable point of attachment,
at each end, the weight of the boat keeping the cords stretched between the tail
pieces and the slip hook but, when the safety check is withdrawn and the trigger
arm pulled back, the slip-book disengages one cord and, the other cord being also
now free, the tumbling hooks fall over by the weight of the boat which drops into
the water. The same action takes place automatically the moment the boat is
equally water borne or when water borne at either end, the high end detaching by
the slacking of the fall at the lower end and the boat drops level, but should one
end of the boat reach the water in a position that it will sink end first, by accident
with the tackle, then it will not detach. When the boat is near enough the water
for
a wave to strike one end both ends will instantly detach as one hook cannot
hold on without the other. This detaching automatically under different circum-
stances is effected by coupling the slip hook to the wire or other cords more or less
+1

page_text: "
closely by means of links on the end of one cord. The distinguishing feature in
this gear is that when one hook disengages the other must disengage also. When
the boat is in the water all the gear is left attached to the tackle blocks no part of
it going with the boat and it is always exposed to inspection. When the boat
returns alongside the gear is ready for attaching to the eye bolts and it is
not possible to attach one hook without the other, as either will slip out of the
eye bolt until both are attached, so that there is no danger of the boat being
lifted over end and the crew thrown out as has frequently been the case by other
DAAR
The accompanying drawings illustrate the mode in which my invention is carried
into practical use. Figure 1 shews the tumbling hooks attached by bolts to shackles
of lower blocks. AA are the cheeks, B B' the hooks hinged on pins in the bottom
of checks C is the safety slip hook shewn closed and holding the front link 1 of
chain D consisting of links 1, 2, 3, 4, which connects by the cord E¹ to the tail
piece of the hook B', the other end of the slip hook O being connected by the
cord E to the tail piece of the hook B. The slip hook is kept closed by a forked
lever arm L which is prevented from slipping by the safety check F consisting of a
piece of wire cord fastened to its lower end and passed through a hole in end of
hook with a single hitch. The lever arm L may be of any length without danger
of slipping by accident while the safety check is in. The dotted lines show the
positions of the hooks B B¹ slip hook C (with safety check loose) and cords E and E¹
when the gear is slipped-Figure 2 shews a boat water borne at one end only the
hook B in the act of disengaging owing to the slackening of falls at lower end
causing the hook B₁ to fall forward both hooks thus disengaging from eye bolts G. G¹
in the "thwarts" instantly. The chain in this case is linked to slip hook by
link 1. Figure 3 shews the chain linked to slip hook by N° 2 link in which
attachment the connecting cord being shortened pulls the hooks B B' over inclining
towards each other and they can only automatically detach by the boat being all
afloat or completely water borne when either hook dropping out of the eye of
bolt G or G¹ the other hook will instantly disengage. Figure 4 is intended to shew
the advantage of being able to detach the boat by hand before she is water borne
and before the ship by taking a reverse lurch may dash the boat to pieces against
her side. Figure 5 shews the chain linked to slip hook by link 4 in which case
the boat cannot be detached by being water borne, nor by any means, but by the
slip hook C.
Having now fully described my invention and the modes in which I propose to
apply it in practical use, although I do not bind myself to details of the various
parts, I declare that what P consider new and therefore claim as secured to me by
the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is
Firstly. Connecting tumbling hooks, attached to the lower blocks, by a cord or
other connection, in such a manner that the unhooking of one, either automatically
or by hand, allows the other hook to tumble and disengage substantially as shewn
and described.
Secondly. The slip hook (shewn on Figure 1) having a flexible safety check or
stopper passing through a hole in point of hook preventing the hook being slipped
by accident but allowing it at any time being slipped by hand, to release the
tumbling hooks on lower blocks substantially as shewn and described.
Thirdly. The links of a chain applied for the purpose of lengthening or shortening
the cord or connection between the tumbling hooks on lower blocks whereby the
action of the hooks can be controlled substantially as shewn and described.
Fourthly. The combination of parts forming the automatic or hand detaching
gear consisting of tumbling hooks, attached to lower blocks, and connected by a
cord or other means causing them to unhook automatically, links to enable the

page_text: connection to be adjusted in length and a slip hook with safety stopper for
detaching by hand the whole arranged, constructed and operating substantially as
shewn and described
In witness whereof I the said James Linkleter have hereunto set my hand and
seal this thirtieth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three
"
Witness:
1.
JAMES LINKLETER (L.S.)
5:0
T. J. DANSON F. Inst. P. Agents.
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent
Newcastle on Tyné