Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1888
Specification Accepted, 27th Apr., 1888
I HERBERT JOHN HADDAN of the firm of Herbert & Co. Patent Agents of 18
Buckingham, Street, Strand, W.C. London, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a communication to me from
broad by Juan Maristany y Millet of Barcelona in the Kingdom of Spain
Ianufacturer, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
escribed and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
I HERBERT JOHN HADDAN of the firm of Herbert & Co. Patent Agents of 18
Buckingham, Street, Strand, W.C. London, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a communication to me from
broad by Juan Maristany y Millet of Barcelona in the Kingdom of Spain
Manufacturer, 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 this invention is a raft which shall be capable of saving passengers
or goods in case of shipwreck.
The improved raft is insubmergible and is of similar construction above and below
so that when it is launched it may equally fulfil its purpose whichever face or deck
may be uppermost.
It consists of a wooden frame work of substantially rectangular shape slightly
pointed however at one of its extremities. This framework or casing contains
buoyant substances for instance pieces of natural cork, cork charcoal, barks of suit-
able trees or other convenient material. These materials are enclosed in sacks or bags
coated with pitch or any other convenient bitumenous matter for the purpose of
excluding water or dampness.
In the centre of the casing of the raft is walled off a rectangular hollow space
closed on each deck by a suitable hatch so that it is adapted to be opened from either
deck of the raft so that the mast, sail, guard rail and supports therefor, the oars,
rudder, stored in said space may be taken out for use.
Referring to the accompanying drawing, illustrating the improved raft.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the centre thereof.
Fig. 2 is a plan view, part in horizontal section.
Fig. 3 is a cross section thereof.
The sides A are formed of light wooden planks supported from the interior by the
ribs B in any suitable number and by the transverse rails B¹ B' united to the ribs by
means of metal bolts R the extremities of which are screw. threaded to receive
nuts R.
Along the centre of the raft is left a free space CC the walls of which are like-
wise formed by wooden planks supported interiorly by the posts G and the transverse
rails G¹.

page_text: The space remaining between this central hold and the sides of the raft is occupied
by the floats E consisting of cork or other bouyant substance, compressed in sacks
having the shape and size of the spaces they are to occupy. The sacks being filled
they are sewn up and coated once or more with pitch or other bitumenous substance
as mentioned above.
The raft is decked over on each face as shown and over the hold CC a hatch or
cover D is maintained in its place by three or more iron bands to prevent it from
falling out when the raft is thrown or launched into the water but allow said hatch to
be easily opened when required. These bands are hinged at one extremity S and
secured at the other S' onto the deck by thumb screws or the like.
The hold contains the mast H, the guard rail and its supports L, the sail, the rudder N
the oars and other implements, and articles required.
Around the sides of the raft are eyelets T screwed into the sides and serving to
hold the cord T¹ so that the shipwrecked person may sieze the same as a support or for
assistance in climbing onto the raft.
The rudder carries two vertical pivotal rods which may be let into two sockets on
the raft.
The above described rafts may be placed at the sides of the deck of a vessel; or
between the masts two or more above each other.
They may be maintained on deck by means of four vertical iron bars screwed to
the deck so as to hold the rafts securely between them and prevent them from being
displaced by the movements of the ship but so that they can float when the vessel is
submerged.
The two retaining bars on the side next the sea may be hinged so that by simply
removing the pin or the like keeping the rods vertical the latter can be lowered to free
the rafts.
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
1. A reversible safety raft having two decks as set forth and a hold closed
by hatches so that it may be opened from either deck for the purpose set forth.
2. A reversible safety raft having two decks and sides, a hold in the centre adapted
to be opened from either deck in combination with buoyant bodies consisting of sacks
filled with natural cork or other suitable buoyant material arranged in said raft
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of March 1888.