Boats and Apparatus Employed therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Boats and Apparatus Employed therefor.
I, WILLIAM ABSALOM, of 233 Marsh Lane, Bootle, in the County of Lancaster,
Dock Gateman do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my Invention is to facilitate the launching (namely lowering and
disengaging) raising and stowing, of ships boats and to render some of these, operations
practically automatic. To effect the above operations I use a particular form or
construction and arrangement of davits and boat chocks, or rest and blocks and tacklo
hereafter described whereby on releasing the boat from the said chocks, or rest the
boat will by her own weight run, or launch outboard so as to be in a position for
lowering. A particular arrangement of apparatus and gear, in the boat, hereafter
described whereby the lowering of the boat from the davits into the water is effected
(from the boat and whether the boat is waterborne, or not) and the boat can be
disengaged from the lowering pennants. An application of the above launching tackle
for raising the boat to the davit heads. An application of the above disengaging gear
for again.securing the boat to the davits. And an. application of the above launching
tackle for bringing, the boat inboard into the chocks, or rest. And a means of stowing
the davits when the boat is in the chocks, or rest.
The davit (there being as usual two for each boat) according to my Invention
consists of a standard (which may be of curved form to meet the cross section of the
boat, or straight, or inclined) secured, or mounted on the ships deck, or side in such
a position as to allow the boat (when stowed) to lay inboard of the ships gunwale, or
rail. This standard is provided with a pivot bearing preferably inclined outwards
upon which, is carried and, works an inclined arm preferably in the form of a girder.
This arm is free to swing fore and aft, or in a horizontal plane on the pivot bearing
and is of such length as to allow a boat when suspended from its outer end to clear
the ships side when lowering. On the inclined arm of the davit there is a sliding
sleeve to which a block and tackle gear is connected for controlling the launching of
the boat and for raising the boat out of the water and if desired for lowering the

page_text: boat. The sliding sleeve is also provided with a pennant or tackle for lowering
the boat from the davit ends to the water. One end of this pennant is fixed to the
sleeve and the other end (which is provided with an eye) is led through a ring, or
other lead in the boat, through a block on the lowering gear presently described,
brought back and the eye is placed over an inclined pin so that upon the block of
the lowering gear being payed out, the bight of the pennant is payed out until the
pennant is clear of the leading ring, upon which the eye of the pennant slips off the
inclined pin and the boat is disengaged. The length of the pennant must be adjusted
to suit the distance from the davit ends to the water, so that the boat can be
disengaged from the gear when she is water-borne.
The lowering gear consists of a winding barrel placed in line with and under the
centre thwart of the boat. To this barrel the ends of two lines are attached; the
other ends of these lines are attached to the blocks before spoken of through which
the pennants are led. By winding the lines on the barrel, the blocks and thereby
the bights of the pennants are brought towards the centre of the boat, and thus the
boat is held close to the davit ends. The winding barrel is controlled and worked by
a line wound round a part of the barrel and in charge of a man in the boat, or instead
of the line a ratchet gear and brake may be used to work and control the lowering
gear. The boat chocks, or rest are formed on the lower part of the standard of the
davit and each consist of two parts an inboard and outboard part hinged to the
standard in such a manner that when released the outboard chock will fall outboard
clear of the boat and the inboard chock will fall clear of the boats keel. The out-
board chock is provided with a lever by which the said chock is raised and in being
raised also raises the inboard chock into position so that the chocks, or rest for the
boat is formed. A tumbling bar is provided to lock the chocks in position by locking
the lever of the outer chock. The fore and aft chocks can be released simultaneously
by connecting the tumbling bars thereof by a line, or other connection by which they
can be both worked at once.
In the operation of lowering a boat from and when bung in davits according to my
Invention, the tumbling bars, or locks are first removed from the levers of the outer
chocks, thus allowing the said chocks to fall outboard. The boat, which is hung from
the sliding sleeves on the inclined arms will (on slacking the tackle which holds the
sleeves) launch outboard by her own weight and be suspended over the ships side by
the pennants from the outer ends of the inclined arms and is then lowered by the
lowering gear (in the boat) paying out the pennants from the boat, but will not be
disengaged until the lowering gear, under control of the operator, releases the pennants.
Thus the boat can be released either when water-borne, or suspended, or can be held,
at the will of the operator.
To raise the boat the tackles which are used in the lowering operation for working
the sliding sleeves are connected between the said sleeves and the ends of the boat and
are used as ordinary boat falls for lifting the boat out of the water and raising her. up
to the ends of the inclined arms of the davits. When in this position the boat is
made fast by securing the pennants to the lowering gear in the boat as before described.
The ends of the falls are then disconnected from the boat and connected to the top of
the standards and are used for bringing the boat inboard and over the chocks which
are then placed and locked in position under her. When the boat is in the chocks
the pennants may be slacked out and the inclined arms can be braced fore and aft out
of the way.
1
1005

page_text: Boats and Apparatus Employed therefor.
I, WILLIAM ABSALOM, of 233 Marsh Lane, Bootle, in the County of Lancaster,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of my invention is to facilitate the launching (namely lowering and
disengaging), raising, and stowing of ships boats and to render some of theso
operations practically automatic. To effect the above operations I use a particular
form or construction and arrangement of davits and boat chocks or rests, and blocks
and tackle, hereafter described, whereby on releasing the boat from the said chocks
or rest, the boat will by her own weight run or launch outboard so as to be in a
position for lowering; a particular arrangement of apparatus and gear in the boat,
hereafter described, whereby the lowering of the boat from the davits into the water
is effected (from the boat, and whether the boat is waterborne or not) and the boat
can be disengaged from the lowering pennants; an application of the above launching
tackle for raising the boat to the davit heads; an application of the above disengaging
gear for again securing the boat to the davits; and an application of the above
launching tackle for bringing the boat inboard into the chocks, or rest; and a means
of stowing the davits when the boat is in the chocks, or rest.
The davit (there being as usual two for each boat) according to my invention
consists of a standard (which may be of curved form to meet the cross section of the
boat, or straight or inclined) secured, or mounted on the ships deck, or side in such a
position as to allow the boat (when stowed) to lay inboard of the ships gunwale, or
rail. This standard is provided with a pivot bearing, preferably inclined outwards,
upon which is carried and works an inclined arm, preferably in the form of a girder.
This arm is free to swing fore and aft, or in a horizontal plane on the pivot bearing,
and is of such length as to allow a boat when suspended from its outer end to clear
the ships side when lowering. On the inclined arm of the davit there is a sliding
sleeve or truck to which a block and tackle gear is connected for controlling the
launching of the boat, and for raising the boat out of the water; and if desired for
lowering the boat. The sliding sleeve is also provided with a pennant or tackle for
lowering the boat from the davit ends to the water. One end of this pennant is
fixed to the sleeve and the other end (which is provided with an eye) is led through
a ring, or other lead in the boat, through a block on the lowering gear presently
described, brought back and the eye placed over an inclined pin so that upon the
block of the lowering gear being payed out, the bight of the pennant is payed out
until the pennant is clear of the leading ring, upon which, the eye of the pennant
slips off the inclined pin and the boat is disengaged. The length of the pennant must
be adjusted to suit the distance from the davit ends to the water, so that the boat
can be disengaged from the gear when she is water-borne.
.

page_text: The lowering gear consists of a winding barrel placed in line with and under the
centre thwart of the boat. To this barrel the ends of two lines are attached; the
other ends of these lines are attached to the blocks before spoken of through which
the pennants are led. By winding the lines on the barrel, the blocks and thereby
the bights of the pennants are brought towards the centre of the boat, and thus the
boat is held close to the davit ends. The winding barrel is controlled and worked by
a line wound round a part of the barrel and in charge of a man in the boat, or instead
of the line a ratchet gear and brake may be used to work and control the lowering
gear. The boat chocks, or rest are formed on the lower part of the standard of the
davit and each consist of two parts an inboard and outboard part hinged to the
standard in such a manner that when released the outboard chock will fall outboard
clear of the boat, and the inboard chock will -fall-clear of the boats keel. The out-
board chock is provided with a lever by which the said chock is raised, and in being
raised also raises the inboard chock into position so that the chock or rest for the
boat is formed. A tumbling bar is provided to lock the chocks in position by locking
the lever of the outer chock. The fore and aft chocks can be released simultaneously
by connecting the tumbling bars thereof by a line or other connection, by which
they can be both worked at once.
In the operation of lowering a boat from and when hung in davits according to
my invention, the tumbling bars or locks, are first removed from the levers of the
outer chocks, thus allowing the said chocks to fall outboard. The boat which is hung
from the sliding sleeves on the inclined arms, will (on slacking the tackle-which holds
the sleeves) launch outboard by her own weight and be suspended over the ships side
by the pennants from the outer ends of the inclined arms, and is then lowered by the
lowering gear (in the boat) paying out the pennants from the boat, but will not be
disengaged until the lowering gear, under control of the operator, releases the pennants.
Thus the boat can be released either when water-borne, or suspended, or, can be held
at the will of the operator.
To raise the boat the tackles, which are used in the lowering operation for
working the sliding sleeves, are connected between the said sleeves and the ends of
the boat, and are used as ordinary boat falls for lifting the boat out of the water and
raising her up to the ends of the inclined arms of the davits. When in this position
the boat is made fast by securing the pennants to the lowering gear in the boat as
before described. The ends of the falls are then disconnected from the boat and
connected to the top of the standards and are used for bringing the boat inboard, and
over the chocks, which are then placed and locked in position under her. When the
boat is in the chocks the pennants may be slacked out and the inclined arms can be
braced fore and aft out of the way.
In the drawings hereto annexed which serve to illustrate my invention,
Figure 1 is an elevation, Figure 2 a plan, and Figure 3 an end view showing davit
and chocks according to my invention.
Figure 4 shows my invention applied to the operation of "Berthon boats."
Figure 5 shows a modified arrangement of davit head.
Figure 6 illustrates my invention adapted to the standards of the ordinary davits.
Figure 7 illustrates my invention arranged to operate "seat-boats."
Figure 8 is a view showing boat lowering and releasing gear according to my
'invention.
With reference in the first instance to Figures 1'2 and 3, A is the boat, B the fixed
davit, C. Care members forming the swinging arms, and D is the sleeve or truck
which slides on the lower 'member C of the said arms. E, E¹ are the arms forming
the chocks. F designates the trigger mechanism, which is of any known suitable kind,
by which the chocks are held in position and released; and G is a pawl catch provided
with an inclined head which is lifted automatically by the truck when it runs down
the arm C and strikes the catch, and falls into a recess in the truck as shown.
H designates the tackles by which the boat and the trucks are allowed to run down
or be hauled up the arm C; and I are the guys for lifting the arms C or allowing
them to 'fall outboard and hauling them inboard. The leads of the tackles H take

page_text: over a pulley fixed on the davits B, and the leads of the guys 1 are reeved through
the block of such tackle, which is fixed to the davit B. The opposite blocks of these
tackles are made fast to the ends of the arms of the opposite davit and therefore cross
each other when the arms are swung outboard.
The arms E. E' of the chocks are mounted and work on spindles or journals at e³
and respectively, and the loose ends of the arins E rest on pins or projections et on
the arin E. When in the position shown in the drawings the boat is held by the
chocks, but when the arm E¹ is disengaged from the trigger mechanism at F, it falls
into the position shown in dotted lines, out of the way of the boat. The trigger
mechanism may be of any known suitable kind, by which the end of the arm may be
caught and held, or released, as desired.
The trucks D are borne by and run on the arms C on roller wheels in order to
render them easy of operation.
The members C. C₁ of the davit arms are mounted and work on the end of the davit,
which is inclined so as to cause the arms to fall outboard by gravity when the guys I
are let go.
To lower a boat the arms E' of the chocks are released, by the trigger gear at F
whereupon they fall down out of the way of the boat and the guys I are operated and
the davit arms C. Callowed to fall outboard (see Figures 2 and 3); the trucks D and
boat are then allowed to run down the arms C to their ends, and the boat is lowered
from here into the water in the usual way by the tackle H, the lowering and
releasing or detaching of the boat being effected by the releasing gear herein described,
or by any known suitable kind of gear. To raise a boat out of the water and bring it
inboard, the lower block of the tackle H is connected to the boat in the usual way and
the boat then raised up to the position shown in Figure 3. The arms are then
brought inboard, one after the other, and the trucks D run up the arms C. The
trucks D may however be hauled up the arms C prior to the swinging of them inboard,
or vice versa.
In Figure 4 there is illustrated an arrangement according to my invention by
which "Berthon " canvas boats can be raised lowered and stowed. In this case the
fixed davits B are spread apart nearly the full distance of the boats length, and are
provided with chock arms E¹, one end of which is so disposed that it supports the boat
keel at the stem and stern, the canvas folds J of the closed boat hanging down between
the davits B.
By this gear the whole number of boats as now stored on board passenger steamers
can be manipulated successively and lowered.
Figure 5 shows the inclined arms mounted on a davit having a vertical end. In
this case to effect the automatic outward movement of the arms C, the davit is
provided with inclined bearings c³ on which the bosses c' of the arms C, C¹ bear and
work. Although this arrangement may be used successfully I prefer to employ the
arrangement above set forth in which the davit head is inclined.
Figure 6 shows an arrangement in which the ordinary davit stands or bearings K
are rendered applicable for supporting davits constructed according to my invention.
The davits in this case can be either adapted to take in a boat of either greater or less
length than the distance they are spaced apart. If the boat is shorter than the
distance apart of the davits, it is obvious the boat may be run outboard by letting the
arms C fall outboard and then allowing the trucks to run outboard in the manner
already described; but if the boat be longer than the distance apart of the davits the
boat may be got in or out by working the arm C in see-saw fashion thereby getting
one end of the boat out or in first, as the case may be, and then the next in the
same way.
In Figure 7 is shown the davit just described with reference to Figure 6 arranged
to work and launch a "seat boat" of the type protected under Letters Patent
No. 8304, A.D. 1887 granted to G. Hughes.
In all cases I prefer to arrange the joints where the arms C are mounted on the
davits, at such inclinations and in such a manner that the boats will be caused to run

page_text: outboard by gravity, even when the vessel has a "list" in the direction least favourable
to such automatic action.
The gear according to my invention by which the boat may be lowered from the
trucks D is illustrated in Figure 8. In this arrangement I place below the centre.
thwart of the boat two barrels 1 arranged on either side of a worm wheel 2, which
gear with a worm 3 operated by a handle 4. To each of the barrels 1 is attached a
rope 5, having on its end a block 6, which, when the ropes are wound on the barrels
and the boat ready for lowering, are in the position shown in the drawings. The fall 7
is attached at one end to the truck D and passes under a pulley 9 at each end of the
boat through the block 6; the other end being provided with a knot, or equivalent
enlargement 10 is held in a slot cut in a plate 8. When the boat is lowered the
ropes 5 are unwound off the barrels 1 by the handle 4 and worm gear 2, 3, until the
boat is water borne, when the end 10 will free itself or can be readily freed from
the slot in the plate 8, and the fall 7 will be free to be drawn through the block 6
(which are made sufficiently large to allow the knot 10 to pass through them), from
under the pulley 9, and clear of the boat.
In the above drawings I have shown several applications and modifications
embodying my invention, but it will be obvious that many arrangements may be
designed to suit special cases, but in all, the essential feature is the use of davits
provided with arms or their equivalents and so constructed that the boat runs outboard
by gravity, as, or substantially in the manner herein described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In apparatus of the type herein described, the improved mode of launching
ships boats, which consists in causing the boat to run outboard by gravity upon arins
arranged at an inclination and mounted and working on the ends of davits, and then
lowering said boat from the ends of such arms, substantially as set forth.
Second. In apparatus for launching and raising ships boats, the use of arms arranged
in such a manner that the boat supported upon said arms runs outboard thereon by
gravity, substantially as set forth.
Third. In apparatus for launching and raising ships boats, the use in combination
with davits, of arms supported by and adapted to swing or work thereon, substantially
as set forth.
Fourth. The apparatus consisting mainly of the davits B, arms C, and. trucks D,.set
forth especially with reference to Figures 1 2 and 3 of the drawings.
Fifth. The apparatus consisting mainly of the davits B, arms C, and trucks D,
adapted to hold and operated collapsible boats, set forth especially with reference to
Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings.
Sixth. The arrangement of davits B, as set forth with reference to Figures 6 and 7
by which the existing bearings (K) of ordinary davits of vessels are rendered adaptable
or useful for supporting davits according to this invention, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of June 1888.
WILLIAM
ABSALOM.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents.