IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE-RAFTS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of" IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE-RAFTS."
A communication by Lewis Henry Raymond, of the City, County, and
State of New York, and John Roberts, of Dunellen, in the County of
Middlesex, State of New Jersey, both in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May 1880.
66
WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE-RAFTS." [A communication by Lewis Henry
Raymond, of the City, County, and State of New York, and John Roberts, of
Dunellen, in the County of Middlesex, State of New Jersey, both in the United
States of America.]
This Invention consists in a life raft made with sides of equal height below and
above the floor, and having independent cylindrical air chambers fastened thereto
between the seats above and below the floor, and also having air chambers made in
compartments formed between the sides at both ends of the raft.
It further consists in a gunwale on the top and bottom of the sides and thwarts,
held and braced by means of braces connecting the gunwale and the thwarts.
The raft is formed of an outer shell or sides, between which a double-slatted floor
is supported in the middle of the height of the sides, so that a raft with floor and
sides is formed in whatever position the raft may rest on the water. Air chambers
are formed at the ends of the raft, and are subdivided into a number of entirely
closed independent compartments by transverse or longitudinal partitions. The
sides may form part of the air chambers, which in this case have the top and
bottom attached to the sides so as to form an air tight joint; or the air chambers
may be made independently, and may be placed in the space between the sides at
the ends of the raft. The top and bottom edges of the sides are protected and
stiffened by a heavy and strong gunwale, which also facilitates the handling of the
raft and gives a good bearing for the oars or oar-locks. Thwarts are placed
transversely at suitable distances apart, according to the length of the raft, and are
[Price 6d.

page_text: held by end braces passing from the gunwale to the top of the thwarts, to both of
which they are securely fastened. The thwarts are arranged above and below the
floor, that is to say, they are suspended from each gunwale, so that the raft will, in
all positions, have seats for the persons on the same. The tops of the end air
chambers are preferably made on a level with the upper sides of the thwarts, so
that the sides form a low enclosure around the sides and top ends of the air
chambers. Between each two thwarts a cylindrical air chamber is fastened to the
sides on the inside by means of bands surrounding the said cylindrical air chambers,
or in other suitable manner. These cylindrical air chambers are provided above
and below the floor, and are entirely independent of each other and in no
communication whatever, so that if one of them becomes damaged it can be
renewed easily and without affecting the others. The cross section of these
cylindrical air chambers may be triangular or polygonal instead of circular, as may
be necessary or desired. Life lines are attached to the outside of the raft by means
of staples, or in some other suitable manner.
Ordinarily only the air cylinders on one side of the floor will be submerged, but
if a very heavy load is to be carried the upper tier of cylinders will also assist in
keeping the raft afloat.
The raft may be made of any desired size, and of wood. or metal, as may be
desired. If one of the compartments of the end chambers should happen to leak
the other compartments are not affected thereby and easily keep the raft afloat.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd November
1880..
"
WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE RAFTS." A communication from abroad by
Lewis Henry Raymond, of the City, County, and State of New York, and John
Roberts, of Dunellen, in the County of Middlesex, State of New Jersey, both in the
United States of America.
The object of the Invention is to provide a new and improved life raft, which is
simple in construction and durable and effective in use.
The Invention consists in a life raft made with sides of equal height below and
above the floor, and baving independent cylindrical air chambers fastened thereto
between the seats above and below the floor, and also having air chambers made in
compartments formed between the sides at both ends of the raft. It further consists
of a gunwale on the top and bottom of the sides and thwarts, held and braced by
means of braces connecting the gunwale and the thwarts.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional
elevation of the improved raft; Figure 2 is a plan view of the same; Figure 3 is a
cross sectional elevation of the same on the line x, x, Figure 2.
The raft is formed of the outer shell or sides A, A, between which a double
slatted floor B is supported in the middle of the height of the sides, so that a raft
with floor and sides is formed in whatever position the raft may rest on the water.
Air chambers C, C, are formed at the ends of the raft, and are subdivided into a
number of entirely closed independent compartments D, D, by the transverse or
longitudinal partitions E, E. The sides A may form part of the air chambers which,
in this case, have the top F and bottom F1 attached to the sides so as to form an
air tight joint; or the air chambers may be made independently and may be placed
in the space between the sides A, A, at the ends of the raft. The top and bottoin
edges of the sides A, A, are protected and stiffened by a heavy and strong gunwale G,
which also facilitates the handling of the raft and gives a good bearing for the oars
or oar locks. Thwarts H, H, are placed transversely at suitable distances apart
according to the length of the raft, and are held by end braces J, J, passing from
the gunwale to the top of thwarts, to both of which they are securely fastened.
The thwarts are arranged above and below the floor, that is to say, they are
suspended from each gunwale, so that the raft will in all positions have seats for
the persons on the same. The tops of the end air chambers C, C, are preferably
made on a level with the upper sides of the thwarts, so that the sides A, A, form a
low enclosure around the sides and ends of said air chambers. Between each two
thwarts a cylindrical air chamber K, K, is fastened to the sides A on the inside by
means of bands L, L, surrounding the said cylindrical air chambers, or in some
other suitable manner. These cylindrical air chambers are provided above and
below the floor, and are entirely independent of and have no communication
whatever with each other, so that if one of them becomes damaged it can be
renewed easily and without affecting the others. The cross section of the
cylinders K, K, may be triangular or polygonal instead of circular, as may be
necessary or desired.
Life lines M, N, are attached to the outside of the raft by means of staples N, N,
or in some other suitable manner. Ordinarily only the air cylinders on one side of
he floor would be submerged, but if a very heavy load is to be carried the upper
ier of cylinders will also assist in keeping the raft afloat. The raft may be made
f any desired size, and of wood or metal, as may be desired. If one of the
ompartments of the end chambers should happen to leak the other compartments
re not affected thereby, and easily keep the raft afloat.

page_text: . Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I would observe that I am aware that rafts with one continuous air chamber
on the ends and sides have been made heretofore, and also that rafts have been
made with side cylindrical tanks of the entire length of the raft, and this I do not
claim; but what I do claim as the Invention to be protected by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is,―
A life raft made substantially as herein shown and described, and consisting of
an outer shell with air chambers at the ends, a slatted floor supported in the middle
of the height of the outer shell, of independent cylindrical air chambers fastened
to the inner side of the shell above and below the floor, and of the thwarts, as set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty second day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)