IMPROVEMENTS IN BOAT LOWERING AND DISENGAGING APPARATUS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
HENRY ROBINSON, Boat Builder, 67 Cogan St. Hull WILLIAM JOHN ROBINSON,
Shipping Clerk 50 English St. Hull, do hereby declare the nature of our Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN BOAT LOWERING AND DISENGAGING APPARATUS to be as
follows:-
By means of a hook of novel construction, attached to the lower end of the lower
block of the tackle fall, connected by hook, eye or jaws, on the block. The upper
end of the lowering and disengaging hook, to be secured to the side, or top of the
block by a becket, loop, or shackle, the whole. being under control, until required
to be released; or can be detached on the ship's deck, by which the boat (in the
event of "man overboard ") can be lowered and freed immediately (by self action)
on the boat touching water. This Invention is claimed for above.
⚫ Dated this Nineteenth day of March 1884

page_text: We HENRY ROBINSON 67 Cogan Street Hull, Boat Builder, WILLIAM JOHN
ROBINSON 50 English St. Hull Shipping Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of our
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BOAT LOWERING AND DISENGAGING APPARATUS―
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described,
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This Invention consists of a novel shaped hook, attached to the lower end of the
lower block of the tackle fall, secured to the block by hook, eye, or jaws on the
block and which we purpose calling "an overbalance hook."
The object of this Invention is to enable a boat to be free from the tackle
immediately on floating and to do away with the disasterous circumstances ]
frequently attended, when a boat is unable to be disengaged from a ship.
The "overbalance hook" (as accompanying Drawings will shew), is securely
held in position to the side of the block by means of a becket or loop, and when
required to be released, the becket or loop is slipped over the top & which falls
between the block and the "overbalance hook," the latter remaining in same
position as long as the weight of the boat is on it; but on the boat reaching the
water and becoming afloat, the "overbalance hook " immediately disengages itself,
by the top falling down, and "hook" slipping out of eyebolt.
Fig. 1. Represents boat in davits, with becket on top of "overbalance hook," and
secure.
Fig. 2. Represents boat ready for lowering in case of immediate need, with
becket unattached to "overbalance hook," and ready for floating free on reaching
water with crew on board (in case of man overboard &c.)
Fig. 3. Represents boat in water free from "overbalance hooks" and ready to
proceed at once, or to be kept alongside to receive crew and passengers, in case of
ship sinking.
Fig. 4. Section of boat with "overbalance hook" & becket fast.
Fig. 5. Edge of block with side view of "overbalance hook" and becket fast.
Fig. 6. Front of block & "overbalance hook" & becket fast,
Fig. 7. Front of block with "overbalance hook" free from becket and disengaged
from boat.
Fig. 8. Back of block with “overbalance hook" free from becket and disengaged
from boat.
Fig. 9. Edge of block with side view of "overbalance hook" free from becket
and disengaged from boat.
On Drawings are represented,
A. "Overbalance hook."
R Becket or loop.
5
D. Boat.
E. Eyebolt through thwart and keel.
"Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is "
The distinctive features of novelty of this Invention, and which we declare are:
1 The "overbalance hook," attached to the bottom or lower part of the lower
block of the tackle fall, by hook, eye, or jaws.

page_text: 2nd The "metal becket or loop" attached to the side of the block, and by which
appliance, the "overbalance hook" is kept in position, or released therefrom.
3rd The "fixing of the eye of the eyebolt in the boat, athwartships of the boat,"
Bo that the top of the "overbalance hook," on releasing itself from the eye of the
bolt, may fall clear of the thwart or seat, or tauking of the boat, and the boat be
freed on floating.
Dated this Third day of June 1981.