NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR PREVENTING THE ENTRANCE OF WATER INTO. AND FOR VENTILATING BOATS OR VESSELS, THE SAME BEING ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ENABLING BOATS OF SMALL DIMENSIONS TO PROCEED TO SEA WITH SAFETY
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sir James Liston Foulis, of Colinton, in the County, of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, Baronet, for the Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR PREVENTING THE ENTRANCE OF WATER INTO.
AND FOR VENTILATING BOATS OR VESSELS, THE SAME BEING ESPECIALLY
ADAPTED FOR ENABLING BOATS OF SMALL DIMENSIONS TO PROCEED TO
SEA WITH SAFETY."
Sealed the 20th September 1878, and dated the 24th June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sir James Liston Foulis at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th June 1878.
Sir JAMES LISTON FOULIS, of Colinton, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, Baronet. "NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR PREVENTING
THE ENTRANCE OF WATER INTO AND FOR VENTILATING BOATS OR VESSELS, THE SAME
BEING ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ENABLING BOATS OF SMALL DIMENSIONS TO
PROCEED TO SEA WITH SAFETY,"
This Invention, which relates to new or improved apparatus or appliances for
preventing the entrance of water into and for ventilating boats or vessels, has for
its especial object to enable boats of small dimensions to go to sea with safety, and
it is based upon the principle that a closed hollow body capable of floating cannot
be sunk so long as the entrance of water thereinto is prevented.
The present Invention then is designed to prevent the entrance of such a quantity
of water which would endanger the life of a boat, whilst providing for sufficient
ventilation to enable the life of the inmates to be supported.
The apparatus or appliances consist of a plate of metal or other material having
therein openings, over the exterior of each of which openings is a hinged flap or
valve of such a size that when in contact with the said plate they completely cover
the said openings therein. When the vessel is under hatches the flaps or valves

page_text: hang in such a position by the inclination of the said plate or otherwise that they
are not in contact with the said plate, and consequently ventilation is maintained
by the passage of air between the side flaps or valves and the plate and through
the openings therein. On waves breaking over the vessel, or when in other manner
a rush of water takes place, the flaps or valves are pressed by the force of the said
water into close contact with the plate, and by covering the openings therein
prevent the water from obtaining ingress to the interior of the vessel.
Attached to each flap or valve is an arın or lever, or its equivalent, projecting
through the openings in the plate to the interior of the vessel, and to each of these
arms are attached two ropes or chains, one of which passes over a pulley, the other
hanging free, and all those of the ropes or chains which pass over the pulley may
be attached to one common rope or chain, on pulling which the valves or flaps may
be closed against the openings in the plate. Those of the ropes or chains which
hang loose inay also be attached to one common rope or chain, by pulling which the
said valves or flaps may be opened so as to uncover the openings in the plate.
Any number of plates, each provided with any suitable number of openings and
flaps or valves may be fixed in any convenient or suitable part of the vessel, such,
for instance, as the sides of the companion. Or special erections or ventilating
shafts may be employed if desired, so that the air will be admitted from the
exterior to the interior of the vessel through the openings in the said plates. Or
the openings may be formed in such convenient or suitable part of the vessel
itself, flaps or valves being hinged over the said openings as described with regard
to the plates.
Other means than those described for opening and closing the flaps or valves may
be employed, the essence of the said Invention consisting in the valves or flaps
which leave ventilating openings uncovered when there is no pressure of water
upon the exteriors of the said flaps or valves, but which close over the said venti-
Jating openings when by waves breaking over the vessel or otherwise pressure of
water occurs upon the exteriors of the said flaps or valves.
1

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Sir James Liston Foulis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
December 1878.
Sir JAMES LISTON FOULIS, of Colinton, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, Baronet. "NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR PRE-
VENTING THE ENTRANCE OF WATER INTO AND FOR VENTILATING BOATS OR VESSELS,
THE SAME BEING ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ENABLING BOATS OF SMALL DIMEN-
BIONS TO PROCEED TO SEA WITH SAFETY."
My said Invention, which relates to new or improved apparatus or appliances for
preventing the entrance of water into and for ventilating boats or vessels, has for
its especial object to enable boats of small dimensions to go to sea with safety, and
it is based upon the principle that a closed hollow body capable of floating cannot
be sunk so long as the entrance of water thereinto is prevented.
My presont Invention then is designed to prevent the entrance of such a quantity
of water as would endanger the life of a boat, whilst providing for sufficient
ventilation to enable the life of the inmates to be supported.
The apparatus or appliances by means of which I effect this object consist of a
plate of metal or other material fixed upon ventilating shafts, or upon any other
convenient part of the vessel, as herein-after described, and having therein openings,
over the exterior of each of which openings is a hinged flap or valve, in such a
position and of such a size that when in contact with the said plate they completely
cover the said openings therein, but when hanging free will allow air to pass through
the said openings from the exterior to the interior of the vessel.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, modo, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being bad to the
accompanying Drawing, and to the lotters and figures marked theroon, that is to
say :-
The accompanying Drawing represents my apparatus as applied to a special
ventilating shaft or funnel fixed over an opening in the deck of the vessel, Figure 1
being a front elevation and Figure 2 a vertical section taken on the line 1, 2,
Figure 1, in which Figure 2 (for the sake of clearness), such only of the flaps or
valves as lie on the line of section are shewn.
The portion of the deck represented is marked A and the ventilating shaft or funnel
is marked B. The opening of the said shaft or funnel is covered by a plate C, in
which are openings u A flap or valve bis hinged to the plate C over each of the
said openings a. When in their normal position these flaps or valves 6 hang (as
shewn in Figure 2) in such a position (by the inclination of the plate C or other-
wise) that they are not in contact with the said plate C, and consequently when in
rough weather the vessel is under hatches the ventilation of the interior of the
vessel is maintained by the passage of air between the said flaps or valves b and the
plato C, and through the openings a therein. On waves breaking over the vessel, or
when in other manner a rush of water takes place, the flaps or valves b are pressed
by the force of the said water into close contact with the plate C, and these by
covering the openings a therein prevent the water from gaining access to the interior
of the vessel.
Attached to each flap or valve b is an arm e projecting through the openings a,
and to each of these arms c are attached two ropes or chains, one of which (d)
passes over a pulley e, the other rope or chain (ƒ) hanging free. The ropes or
chains may be attached to a rope or chain, on pulling which the valves or flaps b
are closed against the openings & in the plate C, and the ropes or chains ƒ may be
attached to a rope or chain, on pulling which the flaps or valves b are moved out
away from the said openings.
The shaft A may be fitted to the deck in a circular seating, so that it may be
turned with its opening in any direction relatively with that of the wind, and

page_text: similar shafts may be arranged in any number and position, so that they will when
the vessel is under hatches effect the ventilation of any or all of the cabins or other
compartments of the interior of the vessel.
Each plate C may be provided with any suitable number of openings a and
flaps b, and these openings and flaps may be of other forms and arranged in other
manner than as shewn, for instance, the holes and flaps may be oblong, and be
arranged in straight lines instead of in circles, and instead of being upon venti-
lating shafts they may be fixed in any other convenient or suitable part of the vessel,
such, for instance, as the sides of the companion, or the openings may be formed in
such convenient or suitable part of the vessel itself, flaps or valves being hinged
over the said openings, as described with regard to the plates, and in all cases, so
that the air will be admitted to the interior of the vessel from the exterior through
the openings (a).
Other means than those described for opening and closing the flaps or valves may
be employed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, modo, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the new or improved appa-
ratus or appliances for preventing the entrance of water into and ventilating boats
and vessels, essentially as herein-before described, the said apparatus or appliances
consisting of flaps or valves so arranged relatively with ventilating openings as to
leave the said openings uncovered when there is no pressure of water upon the
exterior of the said flaps or valves, but which close over the said openings when by
waves breaking over the vessel or otherwise pressure or impact of water occurs upon
the exterior of the said flaps or valves.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sir James Liston Foulis, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JAMES LISTON FOULIS. (L.S.)