IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Powditch Jordeson, of 25, Eastcheap, in the
City of London, Ship Broker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LIFE BOATS."
Sealed the 28th December 1860, and dated the 10th July 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Powditch
Jordeson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th July 1860.
I, THOMAS POWDITCH JORDESON, of 25, Eastcheap, in the City of London,
Ship Broker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in constructing the boat or vessel so ns to be tubular
or closed at the top as well as at the bottom and sides, and combiningtherewith
T-shaped keels, which are inserted through spaces formed to receive them.
The form of the boat or vessel may be varied, but the cross section of if would
resemble a flattened tube from the bottom of which the keels project. These
keels consist of a vertical plate or plates with two wings at the lower end,
and they may, if preterred, be constructed so that the wings may have a
tendency to open or spread apart by the upward pressure to the water. Four
of such keels are intended to be applied to each boat or vessel, videlicet, one
at each end and one at each side, but the number may be varied. These
keels are also capable of being raised so as to bring the wings in contact with
GP 1

page_text: the bottom of the vessel when required. Around the vessel is formed a
hollow belt of india-rubber valcanised, or otherwise, gutta percha, canvas, or
other suitable material, such belt causing a sufficient displacement of water to
increase the stability of the vessel before getting way on her. In the upper
surface of the tubular vessel there are man-holes, which are provided with
coverings of india-rubber cloth, or other suitable material, furnished with
strings or straps to be fastened to the body of the man, thereby preventing
the water from entering the vessel. The masts and sails are made and
arranged so as to admit of their being hoisted by one rope.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Powditch Jordeson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th January 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
POWDITCH JORDESON, of 25, Eastcheap, in the City of London, Ship Broker,
sond greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Powditch Jordeson, Her special license that I, the said Thomas
Powditch Jordeson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Powditch Jordeson, my executors, administratore, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to tine and
at all times thereafter during the terin therein expressed, should and law-
fully 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Powditch Jordeson, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, 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 Thomas Powditch Jordeson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Iuvention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in Life Boats," consists in constructing the
boat or vessel so as to be tubular or closed at the top as well as at the bottom and
sides, and combining therewith moveable T-shaped keels, which are inserted
through spaces formed to receive them. The form of the boat or vessel may
be varied, but the cross section of it would resemble a flattened tube from the
bottom of which the keels project. These keels consist of a vertical plate or
plates with two wings at the lower end, and they may, if preferred, be con-
structed so that the wings may have a tendency to open or spread apart by the
upward pressure of the water. Four of such keels are intended to be applied
to each boat or vessel, viz., one at each end, and one at each side, but the
number may be varied. These keels are also capable of being raised so as to
bring the wings in contact with the bottom of the vessel when required.
Around the vessel is formed a hollow belt of india-rubber vulcanised or
otherwise, gutta percha, canvas, or other suitable material, such belt causing a
sufficient displacement of water to increase the stability of the vessel before
getting way on her. In the upper surface of the tubular vessel there are
man holes, which are provided with coverings of india-rubber cloth, or other
suitable material, furnished with strings or straps to be fastened to the body
of the man, thereby preventing the water from entering the vessel. The
mast and sails are made and arranged so as to admit of their being hoisted
by one rope.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to
describe in what mauner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, in which are represented the parts above referred to.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the life boat with masts and sails applied
thereto; Fig. 2 is a plan or horizontal view of the same shewing the boat
adapted for rowing, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same. In these
several Figures the same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A is the tubular vessel or boat, which is represented as composed of thin
metal with or without a framework of wood or iron inside. I prefer that it
should be composed of galvanized iron, but I do not confine myself thereto,
nor to metal, as it may be made of wood. This will depend upon the service
for which it is required, and whether it is intended to be used as a ship's boat
or independently, and how far it is required to be portable. On reference to
Fig. 3 it will be seen that the cross section of the boat or vessel resembles

page_text: that of a flattened tube, but the form of the tubular vessel may be varied
from that shewn. Bis the hollow belt of india-rubber vulcanized, or other-
wise, gutta percha, canvas, or other suitable material, formed around the vessel,
being inserted in a groove made to receive it. C, C, are the keels inserted
in the spaces D, D, adapted to receive them. Four of these keels are shewn,
which are arranged one on each side and one at each end of the boat, but the
number and arrangement thereof may be varied. They are capable of being
drawn up close to the bottom of the boat when required. Fig. 4 shews one
of them ou an enlarged scale with the vertical plates or wings together; and
Fig. 5 shews the same with the wings apart. E, E, are the man-holes, which
have covers of india-rubber cloth, or other suitable material, drawn together by
strings or cords so as to be capable of keeping out the water, such strings or
cords being fastened round the body of the boatman or other person after
getting into the hole. Below each hole is fixed a seat; F, F, are rowlocks
to receive oars; G, Fig. 1, is a rope by means of which the masts may be
both raised or lowered together as required. These masts turn on pivois
H, H, being steadied by standing rigging I on each side, and they are con-
nected together by a rod K so that by pulling on the rope G, or letting it go,
the two masts will both be made to turn on their pivots and be raised or
lowered simultaneously; L is the rudder.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as of my
Invention is the construction of life boats in the form of tubular vessels with
man-holes and moveable keels, and with masts capable of being raised or
lowered simultaneously as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Powditch Jordeson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of January in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE.
50, Chancery Lane, W.C,
Patent Agent.
THOS. P. JORDESON. (LS.)