IMPROVED SELF-Righting Lifeboat
Year: 1885

page_text: AN IMPROVED SELF-Righting Lifeboat, invented by me, JAMES WRIGHT, of
No. 97, Lucey Road, in the Parish of Bermondsey, London, in the County of Kent,
a retired Officer of Her Majesty's Customs, and I do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for the said Lifeboat, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The materials used in the construction of this Lifeboat, exclusive of nails and
screws, wire, copper or brass fittings, are Wood, Iron, Lead, Cork-wood, Paint,
Varnish, and Hemp-roping.
Figure 1. A to B, and C to D, represents the uppermost line of the fore and aft
air-tight compartments, which is perfectly horizontal.
·
E to E. The line of the Gunwale, giving a "Spring" of one foot and two-tenths
of a foot from borizontal line of air-tight compartments, at mid-ship.
F to F-The wale.
G to G.-The Line of Deck, giving four-tenths of a foot “Spring” at mid-ship.
H to H-Wood Keel.
I to J Lead-Ballast in layers of half-a-tenth substance in gradually reduced
lengths, the greatest length being about sixteen feet, the lead weighing four pounds
to the superficial square foot; those layers are tied down with cross-bands of the
same material: 1, 2, 3, 4.
K to K.-Cork-wood fittings extending from the fore Bulk-head to aft Bulk-
head: L, L,. the shape of which is shewn by letters C, C, in Figure +.
M to N. Solid Cork-wood fittings under deck, built in, in blocks, pinn'd with
timber, and bound together with stout copper-wire, which blocks can be removed
seperately when necessary for repairs, the whole being securely wedged in between
the Deck-joists with short lengths of wood.
P. P, P, Cylindrical Valve Tubes, six in number, namely: Three on either side
of the Keel, for the escape of water shipped, enabling the Boat to discharge the
whole of the water shipped in Twenty-four seconds.
R, R. Wells for pumps for ordinary use in clearing water in passage under
Deck.

page_text: S. S.-Apertures, eight-tenths of a foot, by six-tenths of a foot, situated on the
port side of upper surface of fore and aft Air-tight-compartments, for facilitating
the Self-righting properties of the Boat, more especially when sails are set and
sheets fast, through which apertures the water rushes whilst the Boat is in the act
of righting itself, which it is warranted to do in all weathers.
Note: Between the cork-wood fittings under the Deck, represented by diagonal
lines, extending from Stem to Stern, and shewn in mid-ship section,-Figure: 4,
D, D, is a passage of Three feet in width.
Figures 2 and 3.-Represent half-sections of fore and half Bulk-heads, shewing
the open spaces on the port side, over which the Apertures, S. S. in Figure: 1 are
located.
S. S.-Apertures, eight-tenths of a foot, by six-tenths of a foot, situated on the
port side of upper surface of fore and aft Air-tight-compartments, for facilitating
the Self-righting properties of the Boat, more especially when sails are set and
sheets fast, through which apertures the water rushes whilst the Boat is in the act
of righting itself, which it is warranted to do in all weathers.
.
Note: Between the cork-wood fittings under the Deck, represented by diagonal
lines, extending from Stem to Stern, and shewn in mid-ship section,-Figure: 4,
D, D, is a passage of Three feet in width.
Figures 2 and 3.-Represent half-sections of fore and half Bulk-heads, shewing
the open spaces on the port side, over which the Apertures, S. S. in Figure: 1 are
located.
Figure 4.-Mid-Ship section, shewing the “Beam,” the depth, etc:
A. A Thawts.-B. B.-Deck.
C. C.-Cork-wood fitting from Bulk-head to Bulk-head.
D. D. Cork-wood fitting built in solid from Stem to Stern, under Deck.
E. E. Cylindrical Valve Tubes. F.-Keel.
G. G. G. Lead Ballast in several longitudinal layers, with cross-Bands of same
material, as described in Fig 1: I, to J.
H. H. Bilge Pieces.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what
I claim is
Firstly. A reduction in the "Spring" of the Gunwale, reducing the resistance
of wind and water in the Boat's progress to a wreck.
Secondly. The peculiar arrangements of the Cork-wood fittings above and
below the Deck, together with the internal position of the Lead-ballast; situation
of the Valve-Tubes, and the substitution of wood for the Keel.
Thirdly. The construction of the fore and aft Air-tight Bulkhead Compartments,
with its open spaces, and Apertures in the upper surface of same (This being the
principal novelty of the Invention), without which, with so low a "Spring"; so
little draught of water, thus increasing its speed, no Boat can right itsself with
sails set and Sheets fast. Also the partial applicability of the Invention in making
ordinary Ships' Lifeboats Self-righting.
Doted this Ninth to 1007