IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS OR SAFETY ARKS
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN REESE, of Machynlleth in the county of Montgomery, Watchmaker
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE
BOATS OR SAFETY ARKS" to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a life boat or safety ark, not liable to upset, and
that can be driven by power if requisite or by human force without the aid of oars.
It consists 1st of a hull similar to that of an ordinary boat, but with bulwarks,
say about 18 inches high, formed of a series of compressed air compartments or of
ordinary light strong construction, but carrying a series, say twelve, strong
compressed air compartments, six to a side, protected by strong sacking or sail
cloth, out side. the bulwarks will be fixed an iron framework and network of half
moon shape thoroughly covered with sailcloth as a sort of hurricane deck, but
fitted with two water tight doors or if desirable four doors one at each side and
one at each end. In the bow and stern bulwarks in breaks in the row of airtight
compartments there will be two stout bull's eye windows. Ordinary boats can be
fitted with these improvements. Inside the boat I place one or more cylinders,
preferably four, two on each side, made preferably of strong zinc. The lower ends
of these penetrate the bottom of the boat, slanting obliquely towards the stern,
they have each an orifice opening to the sea and controlled by a valve or series of
valves, also another opening to the atmosphere or to the water in front of the boat
as preferred, or even as hereafter explained to the furnace of the steam boiler
when used.
In the cylinders, work rams or pistons, preferably the latter; these pump air or
water, or air on one side the piston and water the other side through the cylinders
into the sea. If the escaping gases of the steam boiler are used in part, they heat
the other air used thus expanding it. The piston rods are worked by levers, by
hand, or by steam engine, and the same mechanism works a pair of double action
bellows to supply air to the cylinders or to be used independently in conjunction
with water or otherwise.
In my experimental boat, I have six cylinders, four throwing water, two air, of
these four water cylinders, one on each side of the boat, is always throwing water
while the other pair is filling. In this way the balance is perfectly maintained.
The two air cylinders are preferably one immediately behind the other in the
centre line of the boat, and work alternately with each other in the same manner
that the two water cylinders do.

page_text: "
I, JOHN REESE care of Wm. P. Thompson and Co. Office for Patents, 6 Lord Street
Liverpool Lancashire, Watchmaker do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE-BOATS OR SAFETY ARKS and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object a life boat or safety ark, not liable to upset, and
that can be driven by power if requisite or by human force without the aid of oars.
It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a
vertical longitudinal section and Figure 2 a plan.
In these A is a hull similar to that of an ordinary boat but with bulwarks say
about 18 inches high formed of a series of compressed air compartments B BB
preferably six to a side protected by strong sacking or sail cloth. Over the
bulwarks I fix a light iron framework or network C as a roof, semi-egg-shape
thoroughly covered with sail cloth as a sort of hurricane deck but fitted with water
tight doors D D.
In the bow and stern bulwarks in breaks in the row of airtight compartments B,
I fix two stout bull's eye windows F F. Ordinary boats can be fitted with theso
improvements. Inside the boat I place one or more cylinders, G G preferably four,
two on each side, made preferably of strong zinc. The lower ends of these
penetrate the bottom of the boat slanting obliquely towards the stern, they have
each an orifice opening to the sea and controlled by a valve or series of valves, also
another opening to the atmosphere or to the water in front of the boat as preferred,
or even as hereafter explained to the furnace of the steam boiler when used.
In the cylinders, work rams or pistons, preferably the latter, these pump air or
water, or air on one side the piston and water the other side through the cylinders
into the sea. If the escaping gases of the steam boiler are used in part, they heat
the other air used, thus expanding it. The piston rods are worked by levers HH,
either by hand or by steam engine, and the same mechanism works a pair of double
action bellows I to supply air to the cylinders, or to be used independently in
conjunction with water or otherwise. The levers are fulcrumed at J midway
between the cylinders.
In my experimental boat I have four cylinders throwing water and two air
bellows of these four water cylinders, one on each side of the boat is always
throwing water while the other pair is filling. In this way the balance is perfectly
maintained The two air cylinders are in the stern of the boat, and work
alternately with each other in the same manner that the two water cylinders do.
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
1st. The covered boat with bull's eyes or windows, watertight doors, and side
air chambers so as to form a lifeboat, substantially as described.

page_text: 2nd. The propelling apparatus consisting of cylinders
and
bellows blowing or
or
spouting the air downward and backward, substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of April 1885.
WP. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
and 323, High Holborn, London,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.