An Improved Apparatus for Preventing the Capsizing of Boats, and other Vessels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1897-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
Date of Application, 7th NOV., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1897-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
An Improved Apparatus for Preventing the Capsizing of Boats,
and other Vessels.
I WILLIAM HENRY BRADFORD of Panton Place, Panton Road, Hoole, Chester, (late
of 8 Panton Road, Hoole) of (limited) independent income, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
By fixing, permanently, or temporarily, "air-cases," made of metal, cork, or any
other suitable material, on the "top" of the sides of the boat, and across it, "one,"
forward; and another, similar one, across the "top" of the boat's sides,-at the stern
of the boat, is, the "one" type, of the invention, for all, "open," undecked,
"boats," whether, for rowing, or sailing, or for rowing and sailing, combined. These
athwart-ship air cases are to project beyond, or over, the boat's sides, and act as
powerful levers to lift back (as it were) the boat, when liable to be upset, by a sudden
squall or, from any other cause. By being placed on the "top" of the boat's sides
they prevent, also, such boats from even being "keel up," inasmuch, as no boat
could, ever, remain floating, on these buoyant air-cases. Boats, on this plan, even,
full of water, or, even, the bottom of the boats damaged, or broken, yet remain,
"unsinkable," and "uncapsizable." These air, cases (two) for "open," undecked,
"boats" rest, each on a thin metallic plate, corresponding with the bottom of each
air case, these plates, are made to rest, and are fitted to cork-beds, fastened on the
outsides of the boats. The "other type" of air cases, for all kinds of sailing vessels,
and steamers, are to be made of metal, cork, or any other suitable material, and to be
fixed "longitudinally ""on," and "above" the vessels outer sides, and of suitable
form, or modification.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Preventing the Capsizing of Boats,
and other Vessels.
I WILLIAM HENRY BRADFORD of Panton Place, Hoole, Chester, Mariner (Retired),
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The addition to "open boats" and "decked vessels " of apparatus to counteract
any tendency to capsize: the said apparatus consisting of hermetically sealed hollow
cases of metal, wood, or other suitable material, or of solid bodies of buoyant material,

page_text: such as cork, wood, &c., the cases, or bodies of material, being secured to the boat or
vessel in the manner shown in the drawings and as described hereafter. The term
"buoyancy case" is to be understood to mean, either the "hollow case" or the
"solid body" above referred to...
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood I will now refer to
the drawings herewith in which-
Figure is elevation, or sheer plan, of an "open boat" constructed according
to this invention.
Figure 1 is a transverse section of fore buoyancy case of the same.
Figure 2 is a deck plan of the "open boat."
Figure 3 is elevation, or sheer plan, of "a decked vessel," "a entter yacht"
constructed according to this invention.
Figure 3 shows how the inner sides of the alongside buoyancy cases are to be
fastened to the stanchions of the deck rail.
Figure 4 is a deck plan of "cutter yachts."
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 A is the fore buoyancy case and B the after one
which rest on and are each screw-bolted to a bed plate C made of metal or any other
suitable material. These bed plates C correspond in form with the under sides of
the buoyancy cases A and B. Through the flange on the under side of each
buoyancy case screw holes are to be made for securing by screwing each buoyancy
case A and B to its bed plate C and through each bed plate into the cork bodies D or
into the solid parts of the boat marked E in Figure 2. The screw bolts F in
Figures 1 and 2 are preferably round headed so as to attach or detach each buoyancy
case from the cork bodies D or the solid wood of the boat marked E Figure 2, the
bed plate C intervening, in the shortest possible time. At the fore part of the
flange of the buoyancy case B there are instead of the round headed screw bolts F
two eye-bolts G one on each side of the flange of the said buoyancy case B through
which eyebolts the yoke ropes of the rudder are to be rove, one through each
eyebolt and to be crossed so as to gain more power over the rudder when steering
the boat.
For attaching more firmly the cork bodies D to the boat a metal clip H is to be
used the lower part of each clip being bolted to the boat's side. These clips are to
be countersunk into the cork bodies D, flush or nearly so, and pass through the bed.
plates C and each tightly screwed to it by a nut I. The cork bodies are also
nailed to the boat by copper nails J. K is a cork guard or fender for each side of
the boat. L shows how a metallic keel can be attached to the boat and add, by it,
further to the improvement of the invention.
Figures 3 and 4 show the form of and how the buoyancy cases are to be attached
to decked vessels. A represents the fore buoyancy case which is to be bolted to
the deck by square headed screw bolts D so as to be readily attached or detached
by a wrench. The after deck-buoyancy-case B is to be fixed in like manner.
CC are the vessel's side buoyancy cases which are to be raised well up to prevent
a vessel floating keel up, and to project beyond its sides to give full righting power
if overturned. The deck buoyancy cases A and B have no capability to right the
vessel but are merely additional aids to the side buoyancy cases CC to further
prevent a vessel floating keel up. D shows the square headed bolts, also, by which
the under sides of the buoyancy cases C C are to be fastened to the vessel's
sides.
The bottom of these buoyancy cases C C are a little above the water line so that
the square heads of the bolts could not offer much resistance to the water so as
to impede progress. The bolts are square headed for the reason given above but
they need not necessarily be so. Short screw bolts with nuts would be used for
attaching these buoyancy cases C C to the outer sides of an iron vessel. The upper
and inner sides of these alongside buoyancy cases C Care to be fastened to the
stanchions of the vessel's deck rail E by clamps F and with cotters G as
represented in Figure 34. The clamps, two to each stanchion, are bolted to the
inner side of the buoyancy case as shown by H in Figure 3. These buoyancy

page_text: cases C C, as well as the deck buoyancy cases A and B, can be readily attached to
or detached from the sides of a decked vessel.
There should be some kind of "packing" used between the stanchions E and
the inner sides of the buoyancy cases C C on each side of the vessel to prevent them
working or becoming loose. It might be made of cork or any other suitable
Relieving tubes might be placed in the sides of the "open" boats
Figures 1 and 2 to relieve the boat if full of water, but are not absolutely necessary,
as the invention renders the boat to be unsinkable, even when full of water, as well
as uncapsizable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. The addition of hermetically sealed, or closed, hollow cases, or light solid
bodies to "open" or "decked" vessels to prevent them capsizing.
Second. The placing of the said cases or bodies on the "top" of the "sides" of
the "open" boat and to extend beyond" the sides of it, and on each side of a
decked vessel, so that any tendency of the boat, or vessel, to capsize would cause the
immersion of the cases or bodies and thus bring their buoyancy into action to right
the boat or vessel.
Third. The connection of such cases or bodies in the manner described so as to
allow of their being attached or detached readily.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of May One thousand eight hundred and ninety-
WILLIAM HENRY BRADFORD.