Improvements in Life Buoys and in Apparatus connected therewith.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 4th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Life Buoys and in Apparatus connected therewith.
I, ROBERT WHITBY, of 49 Cranmer Road, Forest Gate, in the County of
Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements on the inventions described in the
Specifications of my prior Patents Nos. 797 A.D. 1881, 15802 A.1). 1889, and
7099 A.D. 1891, and consists in improved means for supporting the buoy and its
attached floating light in position ready to be launched clear of the ship or vessel
at a moment's notice, while such buoy will be so secured on the vessel that same
will be protected from injury, and cannot be tampered with either to launch it or
to remove any of the fittings with which it is provided.
The buoy may be of any suitable form and is constructed in any suitable
manner which will ensure the requisite buoyancy, but preferably of a metallic shell
divided into watertight compartments, which may be filled with cork or other
suitable solid material which will enable the buoy to float even if the outer shell
should be pierced in any way.
The floating light described in the Specifications of my prior Patents is attached
to the buoy by a cord or chain of any desired length, which can be coiled or
wound round the outside of the light case when the buoy is secured to the side of
the ship.
The light case is placed in the central space of the buoy, its bottom if
necessary fitting into a recess formed in the inside surface of the shell, and a pin,
rod or its equivalent passes through a tube in the top of the buoy and its lower
end engages an opening in the top of the light case so as to retain it in position.
The pin, rod or its equivalent is secured by a chain to a fixed point on the vessel's
side, so that when the buoy is launched the pin will remain behind, and the light
will consequently be released and so float away from the buoy when it strikes the
water, while still remaining attached thereto by its cord or chain. As explained
in the Specifications of my prior Patents above referred to the light is of such
a nature and so constructed as to ignite at once when it comes into contact with
the water.
The buoy is preferably placed in a box or case secured to the side of the vessel
and the bottom of which projects only a few inches from the side thereof, while
the back is sloped so as to ensure the buoy when released being launched at such an
angle as to strike the water quite clear of such side.
The top of the box has a hinged flap or lid for permitting the buoy to be
introduced, and which when closed may serve as a seat, and be secured by a lock
so as to prevent access to such box except by duly authorised persons.
The bottom of the box has also either a flap or lid or a central bar, which is
hinged and has a chain, cord or wire attached to its free end and connected with
any suitable releasing mechanism which is also in such position that same is only
accessible to the proper authorities or persons whose duty it is to actuate same when
required. When the flap or bar is secured it supports the buoy, the bottom of
which rests thereon, while when released it falls down leaving the buoy free to fall
into the water by its own weight. A spring is preferably attached to the top lid
of the box and bears on the top of the buoy when closed, so that when the bottom
flap or bar is released the power of the spring will shoot out the buoy through the
bottom with a certain force and thus assist the launching thereof.

page_text: Instead of the box secured to the vessel's side, two parallel rods placed a short
distance apart may be used, their upper ends being secured to the vessel's side and
their lower ends being free. These rods will pass through openings or tubes formed
in the top and bottom part of the shell of the buoy, and are arranged at the
necessary angle to ensure the buoy being launched properly. The hinged flap or
bar to support the buoy engages the ends of the rods after same pass out below the
bottom thereof, and such flap or bar is released in the manner previously described
when the buoy is to be launched. As in the previous arrangement a spring may
be arranged to bear on the top of the buoy to assist the launching. The floating
light need not in this case be fitted into a recess in the shell of the buoy, but simply
lie against the two guide rods, the pin passing through the top of the buoy keeping
it in position as before, and a central flat bar secured to the vessel's side between
the rods may cover the light in so that it is protected from both weather and
tampering.
If desired the guide rods last described might be employed in addition to the
box or case, within which they will then be fitted.
The buoy is preferably provided with a bulkhead, within which may be fitted a
hand light or lights only requiring to be withdrawn and a glass tube to be broken
80 as to secure afresh light should the floating light burn out or become
extinguished from any cause. A whistle and a spirit flask, and other requisites
may also fit into the bulkhead, the openings in which they are inserted being
suitably sealed, and the space in the bulkhead itself surrounding the hand lights,
whistle and other articles may form a receptacle for oil, so that by withdrawing
a plug the oil will flow out and so quiet the water should there be a heavy sea
The plug for releasing the oil may be automatically removed by the
action of launching the buoy, or same may be withdrawn by hand by the person
using the buoy.
on.
The box or the guide rods to receive the buoy may be movable instead of
fixed so that they with the buoy can lie in a horizontal position when not required
for use, and be run out and fall into the proper position for launching when
necessary.
Dated this 18th day of June 1894.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Life Buoys and in Apparatus connected therewith.
I, ROBERT WHITBY, of 49 Cranmer Road, Forest Gate, in the County of
Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inventier, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements on the inventions described in the
Specifications of my prior Patents Nos. 797 A.D. 1881, 15802 A.D. 1889, and
7099 A.D. 1891, and consists in improved means for supporting the buoy and its
attached floating light in position ieady to be launched clear of the ship or vessel
at a moment's notice, while such buoy will be so secured on the vessel that same
will be protected from injury, and cannot be tampered with either to launch it or
to remove any of the fittings with which it is provided.
The buoy may be of any suitable form and is constructed in any suitable manner
which will ensure the requisite buoyancy, but preferably of a metallic shell divided
into watertight compartments, which may be filled with cork or other suitable solid
material which will enable the buoy to float even if the outer shell should be pierced
in any way.
The floating light described in the Specifications of my prior Patents is attached

page_text: to the buoy by a cord or chain of any desired length, which can be coiled or wound
round the outside of the light case when the buoy is secured to the side of the
ship. The light case is placed in the central space of the buoy, its bottom if
necessary fitting into a recess formed in the inside surface of the shell, and a pin,
rod or its equivalent passes through a tube in the top of the buoy and its lower
end engages an opening in the top of the light case so as to retain it in position.
The pin, rod or its equivalent is secured by a chain to a fixed point on the vessel's
side, so that when the buoy is launched the pin will remain behind, and the light
will consequently be released and so float away from the buoy when it strikes the
water, while still remaining attached thereto by its cord or chain. As explained
in the Specifications of my prior Patents above referred to the light is of such a
nature and so constructed as to ignite at once when it comes into contact with
the water.
The buoy is preferably placed in a box or case secured to the side of the vessel
and the bottom of which projects only a few inches from the side thereof, while
the back is sloped so as to ensure the boy when released being launched at such
an angle as to strike the water quite clear of such side.
The top of the box has a hinged flap or lid for permitting the buoy to be
introduced, and which when closed may serve as a seat, and be secured by a lock so
as to prevent access to such box except by duly authorized persons.
The bottom of the box has also either a Hap or lid or a central bar, which is
hinged and has a chain, cord or wire attached to its free end and connected with
any suitable releasing mechanism which is also in such position that same is only
accessible to the proper authorities or persons whose duty it is to actuate same
when required. When the flap or bar is secured it supports the buoy, the bottom
of which rests thereon, while when released it falls down leaving the buoy free to
fall into the water by its own weight. A spring is preferably attached to the top
lid of the box and bears on the top of the buoy when closed, so that when the
bottom flap or bar is released the power of the spring will shoot out the buoy
through the bottom with a certain force and thus assist the launching thereof.
Instead of the box secured to the vessel's side, two parallel rods placed a short
distance apart may be used, their upper ends being secured to the vessel's side and
their lower ends being free. These rods will pass through openings or tubes
formed in the top and bottom part of the shell of the buoy, and are arranged at the
necessary angle to ensure the buoy being launched properly. The hinged flap or
bar to support the buoy engages the ends of the rods after same pass out below
the bottom thereof, and such flap or bar is released in the manner previously
described when the buoy is to be launched. As in the previous arrangement a
spring may be arranged to bear on the top of the buoy to assist the launching.
The floating light need not in this case be fitted into a recess in the shell of the
buoy, but simply lie against the two guide rods, the pin passing through the top of
the buoy keeping it in position as before, and a central flat bar secured to the
vessel's side between the rods may cover the light in so that it is protected from
both weather and tampering.
If desired the guide rods last described might be employed in addition to the box
or case, within which they will then be fitted.
The buoy is preferably provided with a bulkhead, within which may be fitted a
hand light or lights only requiring to be withdrawn and a glass tube to be broken
50 as to secure a fresh light should the floating light burn out or become
extinguished from any cause. A whistle and a spirit flask, and other requisites
may also fit into the bulkhead, the openings in which they are inserted being
suitably sealed, and the space in the bulkhead itself surrounding the hand lights,
whistle and other articles may form a receptacle for oil, so that by withdrawing a
plug the oil will flow out and so quiet the water should there be a heavy sea on.
The plug for releasing the oil may be automatically removed by the action
of launching the buoy, or same may be withdrawn by hand by the person using
the buoy.

page_text: The box or the guide rods to receive the buoy may be movable instead of fixed
so that they with the buoy can lie in a horizontal position when not required for
use, and be run out and fall into the proper position for launching when necessary.
But in order that my invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe same by the aid of the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the arrangement in which the buoy to be launched
is enclosed in a box or case, such box or case being shown as hinged to the vessel
so that same may be turned down into a horizontal position when not required to
be used and may then serve as a seat.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding view showing the box so turned down.
Fig. 3 is an elevation taken from the inside of the vessel showing one of the
boxes or cases B raised to the position for launching the buoy, and the others in
their lowered position to serve as seats.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation (partly in section) of the buoy, and
Fig. 5 is a transverse section of same.
The buoy A is inserted within the box or case B, which may be rigidly secured
to the vessel's side in the position shown in Fig. 1, or such box or case may be
hinged as shown at 6 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) so that it can be turned down and serve
as a seat when not required for use. The top end of the box or case B is provided
with a hinged lid B for the purpose of enabling the buoy A to be introduced
therein, and its lower end is provided with a hinged flap or central bar B³, against
which the buoy rests, such flap or bar being secured in position by a detachable
fastening of any suitable construction. The arrangement shown in the drawings
consists in fitting a chain 6 to the free end of the flap or bar B' which is taken up
to the rear of the box or case B, and the end link of such chain is inserted
between two eyes secured to the rear of the box or case B, and through which
slides a rod C, so that when such rod is pushed downwards it secures the chain b',
but when it is pulled outwards to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the box or
case B occupies the position for launching the buoy A, the weight of the latter
resting upon the hinged tap or 'bar B³ causes same to turn on its hinge, and thus
allows the buoy A to leave the case and be launched from the vessel's side.
Within the central space of the buoy A a floating light D (as shown in Figs. 4
and 5) which ignites on contact with the water is situated, same being held in
position by a pin or rod E passing through the top of the buoy and engaging an
opening in the top of the floating light. This pin or rod E is secured to the
top lid B of the box or case B, so that when the buoy falls, out of such case, the
floating light is free and will float on the surface of the water as soon as the buoy
comes in contact therewith.
Such floating light D is attached to the buoy by means of a cord d which is
wound round the outside case of the light and which unwinds as the buoy falls
from the case B.
The action of the buoy leaving the case B may be facilitated by any suitable
arrangement of springs placed within the casing, and one of which will be hereiu-
after described in connection with one of the modifications of my invention.
The body of the buoy may have a suitable receptacle F formed therein to
receive hand lights G and also a whistle H and spirit flask I, so that any person
supported upon the buoy in the water may be able to remove such hand lights if
requisite and also to sound the whistle in order to attract attention, while the
spirit contained in the flask might be useful to him in the case of exhaustion from
exposure or prolonged immersion.
The body of the buoy may also have a sealed receptacle K formed therein to
contain oil, such receptacle being unsealed or opened by any suitable arrangement
by the action of the buoy in leaving the case so that upon the buoy striking the
water the oil will flow out of such receptacle and serve to quiet the water around
same.
Fig. 6 is an elevation from the outside of the vessel of a modification of my
invention;

page_text: Fig. 7 a side elevation of such modification with the parts in position for
supporting the buoy, and
Fig. 8 a similar view with the parts in position for launching the buoy.
In this modification in place of the box or case for containing the buoy, A as
previously described, I employ one or more (preferably two) rods L securel to
the vessel's side in any suitable manner, and which rod or rods pass right through
the body of the buoy, and the retaining bar 13 (upon which the bottom of the
buoy rests) is hinged to the vessel's side and engages the bottom of such rod or
rods. It will be seen that when the central bar 12 is released it will fall down
into the position shown in Fig. 8 and the buoy will consequently be launched.
This action of launching may be facilitated by the employment of the spring
pusher M situated above the top of the buoy on the upper surface of which
it acts.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of an arrangement in which the box or case B containing
the buoy lies in a horizontal position when not required for use, and which can be
run out and fall into the position for launching the buoy when necessary.
For this purpose the case B has pins N which engage slotted guides O secured
to the deck of the vessel. A rope or chain P passes over a fixed pulley Q and is
then secured to the upper end of the box or case B at R. The action of pulling
such rope P will therefore be to pull the case ontwards until the pins N reach the
end of the slotted guides O when same will fall over to the position shown in
dotted lines, and the buoy will consequently be launched. The action of pulling
such rope P for the purpose of running out the case B also at the same time
preferably serves to release the buoy within such case, any suitable arrangement
being employed for this purpose.
In Figs. 10 and 111 have shown in vertical and transverse sections respectively
one arrangement which may be employed for this purpose. In sach arrangement
the rope P after passing over the fixed pulley Q also passes through a pulley or
eye S secured to the top end of the case B and carries a link T at its extremity.
Such link T is inserted within the case U fixed to any suitable point of the
vessel and which contains a sliding bolt V acted upon by a spring W. The
bottom end of bolt V is provided with a projection over which the link T of
rope P is slipped when such bolt is in its lowest position, and which serves to
retain such link when the bolt is in its raised position. The bolt V further passes
through a link X attached to the buoy within the case B, such link passing
through a slot in the case U in which the bolt works.
.
On pulling the rope P the first movement will be to cause the bolt V to
descend until the link T of the rope clears the projection on the end of such
bolt. At the same time the link X secured to the buoy will also have been
released by the bolt V and the buoy will thus be free to leave the case B.
The release of the link T from bolt V will bring same against the pulley S on
case B and the further pull on such rope will consequently cause the case and
buoy to be run out to the position for launching the latter. As shown in Fig. 9
the action of launching the buoy may be facilitated by a spring pusher M as in
the modification previously described.
A slightly modified form of the releasing mechanism last described is shown in
Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings, which are respectively a vertical section and a
sectional plan view of such modification.
In this arrangement the end of the rope P is secured to the spring bolt V,
which in this case mounted on the underside of the case B. The link X
secured to the buoy A passes through a slot in the case U in which the bolt V
works, and as before is engaged by such bolt. When rope P is pulled the
bolt V releases the link X of buoy A and at same time the end of such bolt V
comes in contact with a bracket Y secured to the underside of case B, so that
the further pull on rope P will run the case B and buoy A out to the position for
launching the latter.

page_text: 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 1
claim is
1. The combination with a buoy of a floating light situated within the central
space of such buoy and of means for retaining such light in position and of
releasing same by the action of launching the buoy.
2. The employment of a box or case for containing and supporting the buoy
therein and of means for releasing such buoy when required to launch same,
substantially as described and shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. The employment of a rod or rods passing right through the body of a buoy
and of a hinged or falling part engaging the bottom of such rod or rods, so as
to support such buoy, in combination with means for retaining and releasing
such hinged or falling part so as to permit of the buoy being launched when
required, substantially as described and shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 of the accom-
panying drawings.
4. The combination with a box or case containing a buoy, of means for running
such case and buoy out and causing same to fall into the position for launching
the buoy, substantially as described and shown in Fig. 9 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. The combination with the arrangement described in the preceding claim of
the mechanisin described and shown in Figs. 10 and 11 of the accompanying
drawings for releasing the buoy contained in the box or case, and for running such
box or case out.
6. The combination with the arrangement described in Claim 4 of the means
described and shown in Figs. 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings for releasing
the buoy contained within the box or case, and for running such box or case out.
Dated this 16th day of March 1895.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.