Improvements in Deck Supports for Ships' Boats.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1890-Accepted, 3rd Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Deck Supports for Ships' Boats.
We, CORNELIS JOHANNES VAN SLUYS of Ymuiden, Holland, Engineer, and
CORNELIS STEFFELAAR JZN, of Velzen Holland, Manufacturer do hereby declare the
nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DECK SUPPORTS FOR SHIPS** BOATS "
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in ard by the following statement and accompanying drawings:
Our said invention relates to an improved construction of supports for ships' boats
so arranged as to facilitate the rapid launching of the boats and at the same time to
provide them with a safe and secure resting place on the deck of the vessel when they
are not required for use.
In order to more clearly set forth the nature of our said invention we will at once
proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in all the
figures of which the same letters refer to the same parts.
Of the said drawings

page_text: which the radius rods O are pivotted. Jointed or broken-backed struts hereinafter
referred to as side struts are pivoted at one end to the side bearings L and at the
other end to the brackets N which are secured to the deck. The form of the side
bearings L may be varied to suit the curves of the boat they are intended to support.
We prefer to pivot the radius rods O and the side struts M on a single bolt on the
under side of the side bearing L and to provide a slot m therein sufficiently wide to
allow the side strut to pass as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in order that when lowered into
the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 the side bearings L may be as low as
possible.
°
When
The broken backed side struts Mare hinged together at P. The joint is surrounded
by a strap R slotted where the joint pin P passes through so as to allow the strap to
move transversely to the side strut M. An enlarged view of the strap and the joint is
shown at Fig. 4. Secured to the lower member of the side strut and also to the strap
is a spring n having a sneck a fitting into a notch in the upper member of the side
strut M and while in this position preventing it from doubling up on the joint pin P.
The tendency of the spring n is to retain the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4.
At the back of the strap R is a ring p and a chain b is secured at one end thereto
while the other end of the chain b is attached to a toggle or a pair of bars c.
the slide blocks E recede from each other the toggle c opens and the chain is pulled
so as to cause the strap R to slide transversely to the side strut M and release the
sueck a from the notch in the upper member of the side strut M.
When this
has occurred the slightest further movement of the slide blocks causes the strap to
pull on the joint pin when the side strut M at once doubles up and falls down into
the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in plan at the right hand side
of Fig. 3. The chain 6 is provided with snap links swivels or other similar well-
known means of attachment to the strap R and the toggle c so that it may be readily
detached if required but yet not be liable to release itself accidentally. The junction
of the chain b to the centre of the toggle or bars c is preferably a bolt and nut to
enable the length of the chain to be properly adjusted as shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 2 shows in full lines the slide blocks E in their extreme inner position against
the stop block f in which position the central struts D are nearly vertical. When it
is required to launch the boat the shaft G is rotated and the slide blocks E recede
from each other and during the first part of their traverse they cause the central
struts D to gradually assume a vertical position and slightly elevate the boat. At the
same time the chain 6 is pulled by the opening of the toggle c whereupon the sneck a
is released from the notch in the upper member of the side strut M. The continued
rotation of the shaft G and the consequent further separation of the slide blocks E
causes the side strut M to double up and the side bearings L to fall down in the manner
hereinbefore described. As the central struts D separate at their lower ends the keel
bearing B descends to the position shown in dotted lines in the right hand half of
Fig. 2 and the boat is lowered until it hangs quite free from the blocks of the davits
and may then be pushed through these and be launched in the usual manner.
It will be seen from the foregoing description that we prevent the whole weight of
the fully equipped boat from resting on the side bearings when the keel bearing is
lowered and thus prevent damage to the sides of the boat.
In case the vessel from which it is desired to launch the boat were stranded and
tilted over to one side so as to cause the boat to swing inwards if the inside side
bearing L were removed we should detach the chain 6 from the toggle or bars c and
thus allow only the outside side bearing L to fall down for the purpose of launching
the boat. The inner side bearing L would then turn about its pivot and accomodate
itself easily to the boat's side.
Although in Fig. 2 only two sets of supports one at the bow and one at the stern
are shown it is to be understood that any convenient number suitable to the length of
the boat may be used.
Where a number of supports are used the side bearings I, L may in some cases be
dispensed with for the intermediate supports and only keel bearings B B be used.
Where side bearings are used for intermediate supports they may be connected by side

page_text: connecting rods to the side bearings of the bow and keel so that they may all drop
simultaneously.
If from the effects of collision or other accident the apparatus should be damaged
or otherwise deranged so that the slide blocks E refuse to move it is only necessary to
give a smart tap to the strap R with a hammer a hand spike or other convenient
article when the sneck a will be released and the side strut M will collapse.
The boat can then be pushed off the keel bearings and swung through the davits
over the ship's side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
--
1. A deck support for ships' boats consisting of side bearings in combination with
keel bearings operated by the rotation of a longitudinal screw shaft substantially as
hereinbefore described and set forth.
2. In a deck support for ships' boats the movable keel bearings actuated by a
longitudinal screw shaft, slide blocks, and articulated struts substantially as and for
the purpose hereinbefore described and shown.
3. In a deck support for ships' boats the side bearings with broken backed side
struts operated by a chain and toggle from a longitudinal screw shaft substantially as
and for the purpose herein before described and shown.
4. In a deck support for ships boats the combination of a bar M jointed and hinged
at P, the transversely sliding slotted strap R, the spring provided with a sneck a,
the whole forming a broken backed strut for the side bearing L substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described and shown.
5. In a deck support for ships' boats the combination of a chain with a toggle and
sliding blocks substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and set
forth.
6. In a deck support for ships' boats the combination of the keel bearing B, the slide
blocks E and the articulated central struts D in such a manner and at such angles
with each other that when the slide blocks E recede the keel hearing is elevated before
it is caused to descend by the continued traverse of the slide blocks E substantially as
and for the purpose described and set forth.
Dated this Twentieth day of October 1890.
EDWARD TURNER WHITELOW,
70, Deansgate, Manchester, Agent for Applicants.