Improvements in Swinging Davits and Winch Mechanism for Hoisting and Lowering Ships' Boats.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1889-Accepted, 22nd June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Swinging Davits and Winch Mechanism for
Hoisting and Lowering Ships' Boats.
We, WILLIAM HORSEMAN, 130 Alma Street, Pattern Maker and JOSHUA PERRY
35 Bengal Street Ship Plater, both of West Hartlepool in the County of Durham do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The objects of our invention are to provide apparatus by means of which a ships
boat may be lifted out of the "chocks," swung outboard clear of the side into a
position to receive the passengers or crew and then safely and rapidly lowered into
the water either from the deck or by a hand line in the boat.
The davits swing upon a fulcrum fixed to the deck and, when standing in their
vertical position with the boat "in board," they are supported by frames or stands
also fixed to deck, to which frames they may be secured and locked till required to
be swung "outboard."
Each davit is preferably inade of double plates with a space between to receive
sheaves one at davit head, one at foot and one or more intermediate which lead the
ropes or chains from each end of boat round sheaves in the frames or stands and
thence to the barrels of a winch secured to deck between the davits or in any other
convenient position.
The barrels upon this winch when revolved in one direction wind on both ropes or
chains equally and when revolved in the other direction unwind them equally and
they have between them a powerful friction brake which being operated, from the
deck or from the boat by a hand line, simultaneously throws the winch out of gear
with the rope or chain barrels and applies the brake to allow the boat to descend into
the water rapidly but under perfect control.
The winch may be of any suitable construction either single or double powered
with ordinary toothed or frictional gear or it may be fitted with a worm-wheel and
worn and we prefer the latter and propose to provide for working it to hoist the
boat, either by manual power or, when available, by power obtained from the main
engines or from the steam winches. When fitted with worm gear we fit one end
of the worm spindle with a certain amount of play in one of the winch frames and,
at the other end, to provide for its being raised in the bearing a sufficient height
to lift the teeth of the worm, clear of those of the wheel and so to allow the rope or
chain barrels to run free, controlled by the brake, which is applied simultaneously
with the raising of the worm spindle. The brake strap is attached at one end by an
eye round the spindle and at the other end, after embracing nearly one half of the
circle of the brake wheel, to a bolt in one of the frames and when the worm is in gear
the brake is out of contact but when the worm is lifted out of gear by raising the
spindle the end of the brake strap which is attached to the spindle is raised with it and
the strap is drawn into contact with the brake wheel.
When the winch is fitted with spur or frictional gear the engaging or disengaging,
of the barrels and of the brake respectively, is effected by similar means to those in the
case of worm gear.
works
"
The brake handle by which we propose to effect the two actions, of lifting the worm
out of gear and applying the brake, is formed with a cam" shaped slot in it and
upon a
fulcrum bolt in the winch frame at or near the outer end of the slot.
The projecting end of the worm spindle passes through this slot which, when the lever
is in its lowest position, allows the spindle to rest in its bearing, the worm being in
gear and the brake released, but the raising of the lever gradually by the form of the
slot raises the spindle and applies the brake until, when it reaches its highest position,
having described nearly half a circle, the worm is quite clear of the teeth of wheel and
the brake is "hard-on" the brake wheel.

page_text: The brake lever is actuated either from the deck or by means of a hand line
attached to its handle and leading over the fore and aft stay which binds the davit
heads into the boat where it may be made fast.
In order, as far as possible, to obviate friction we propose to run all spindles in
brass bushes provided with means for oiling them and to fit friction rollers at one end
of the winch spindle carrying the worm to take the thrust when the boat is being
hoisted out of the water.
•
The brake wheel we prefer to make with bevelled or coned flanges and to fit the
brake strap with corresponding blocks of wood or metal so that great gripping power
may be applied when required or the grip gradually relaxed to lower the boat
quickly.
When the worm is out of gear and the brake applied, provision is made, by means
of a "pawl" engaging with a stop, to prevent the worm falling into gear when the
winch barrels are allowed to run free by releasing the handle, so as to let the brake
run clear of the brake wheel.
The detaching gear may be any of those now in use but the addition of stirrups is
required above the hooks which, when the boat is lifted out of the chocks, "ride" over
and rest on the davit head thus throwing the weight of the boat and its occupants
entirely upon the davits and causing them to swing "outboard," controlled by the
ropes or chains from the winch barrels, until they are in their extreme position
"outboard" when the stirrups disengage and the boat is lowered by the brake.
The chocks are attached to the davits and swing with them, the inboard bilge of the
boat only resting at each end, the keel resting on the deck or on raised chocks
standing only a little above the deck and the boat being secured by the usual binding
chains or tackle around it at each end.
The boat being required to be put out, the action is as follows-
The binding chains are cast loose and the locking gear to frames or stands opened
to release the davits.
A few turns of the winch lift the boat out of the chocks and cause the stirrups to
"ride" over the davit heads which now carry the weight of the boat and, by their
projection beyond the fulcrum, the weight causes then to swing outboard, controlled by
the ropes or chains from the winch, till they reach nearly level with ships deck and
the passengers can safely embark. The davits being swung out a little more and the
winch ropes or chains slackened the stirrups disengage from the heads and, the
extreme "outboard" position now being reached, the davits are securely held by
chains to the frames or stands or other means which take the strain off and prevent
them going further.
The winch is now thrown out of gear and the boat is rapidly lowered into the
water by the action of the brake either operated from the deck or from the boat
by means of the band line attached to the brake handle.
In bringing in the boat, the winch is put into gear and raises the boat till the
stirrups come in contact with the davit heads and the further working of the winch
brings the davits and boat inboard when the boat rests again in the chocks.
Dated this 18th day of August 1888
T. J. DANSON,
Per J. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Swinging Davits and Winch Mechanism for
Hoisting and Lowering Ships' Boats.
We WILLIAM HORSEMAN, 130 Alma Street, Pattern Maker and JOSHUA PERRY
35 Bengal Street, Ship Plater, both of West Hartlepool, in the County of Durham do
hereby declare the nature of said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
The objects of our invention are to provide apparatus by means of which a ships

page_text: boat may be lifted out of the chocks, swung outboard clear of the side, into a position
to receive the passengers or crew, and then safely and rapidly lowered into the water,
either from the deck or by a hand line in the boat.
The davits swing upon a fulcrum fixed to the deck and, when standing in their
vertical position with the boat "in board," they are supported by frames or stands
also fixed to deck, to which frames they may be secured and locked till required to
be swung "outboard." Each davit is preferably made of double plates with a space
between to receive sheaves, one at davit head, one at foot and one or more intermediate
which lead the ropes or chains from each end of boat round sheaves in the frames
or stands and thence to the barrels of a winch secured to deck between the davits
or in any other convenient position. The barrels upon this winch when revolved
in one direction wind on both ropes or chains equally and, when revolved in the
other direction, unwind them equally and they have between them a powerful
friction brake which being operated, from the deck or from the boat by a hand line,
simultaneously throws the winch out of gear with the rope or chain barrels and
applies the brake to allow the boat to descend into the water rapidly but under
perfect control.
The winch may be of any suitable construction either single or double powered with
ordinary toothed or frictional gear, or it may be fitted with a worm-wheel and worm
and we prefer the latter and propose to provide for working it to hoist the boat, either
by manual power or, when available, by power obtained from the main engines or
from the steam winches. When fitted with worm gear we fit one end of the
worm spindle with a certain amount of play in one of the winch frames and, at
the other end, to provide for its being raised in the bearing a sufficient height to
lift the teeth of the worm clear of those of the wheel and so to allow the rope or
chain barrels to run free, controlled by the brake, which is applied simultaneously
with the raising of the worm spindle. The brake strap is attached at one end by
an eye round the spindle and at the other end, after embracing nearly one half
of the circle of the brake wheel, to a bolt in one of the frames and when the worm is
in gear the break is out of contact but when the worm is lifted out of gear by raising
the spindle the end of the brake strap which is attached to the spindle is raised with it
and the strap is drawn into contact with the brake wheel.
When the winch is fitted with spur or frictional gear the engaging or disengaging,
of the barrels and of the brake respectively, is effected by similar means to those in
the case of worm gear.
66
a cam
"
The brake handle by which we propose to effect the two actions, of lifting the worm
out of gear and applying the brake, is formed with
shaped slot in it and
works upon a fulcrum bolt in the winch frame at or near the outer end of the slot.
The projecting end of the worm spindle passes through this slot which, when the lever
is in its lowest position, allows the spindle to rest in its bearing, the worm being in
gear and the brake released, but the raising of the lever gradually by the form of the
slot raises the spindle and applies the brake until, when it reaches its highest position,
having described nearly half a circle, the worm is more than clear of the teeth of wheel
and the brake is "hard-on" the brake wheel. The brake lever is actuated either from
the deck or by means of a hand line attached to its handle and leading over the fore
and aft stay which binds the davit heads into the boat where it may be made fast.
In order, as far as possible, to obviate friction we propose to run all spindles in
brass bushes provided with means for oiling them and to fit friction rollers at one end
of the winch spindle carrying the worm to take the thrust when the boat is being-
hoisted out of the water.,
The brake wheel we prefer to make with bevelled or coned flanges and to fit the
brake strap with corresponding blocks of wood or metal so that great gripping power
inay be applied when required, or the grip gradually released to lower the boat quickly.
When the worm is out of gear and the brake applied, provision is made, by means of
pawl" engaging with a stop, to prevent the worm falling into gear when the
winch barrels are allowed to run free by releasing the handle, so as to let the brake
run clear of the brake wheel.
a

page_text: .
"
The detaching gear may he any of these now in use but the addition of stirrups is
required above the books which, when the boat is lifted out of the chocks, "ride"
over and rest on the "davit" head thus throwing the weight of the boat and its
occupants entirely upon the davits and causing them to swing outboard," controlled
by the ropes or chains from the winch barrels, until they are in their extreme
position "outboard" when the stirrups disengage and the boat is lowered by the
brake.
In the arrangement shewn on the Drawings in which the boat is brought entirely
inboard the inner chocks swing with the davits the outer chocks being attached to
the deck but when the boat is brought only partially in board, as in some
cases, only inner chocks are used, the inboard bilge only of the boat resting at
each end, the keel resting on the deck or on raised chocks on the deck and the
boat being secured by the usual binding chains or tackle around it at each end.
The davit frames or stands may be raised to any required height from the deck so that
the boat when inboard will stand some height above the deck and the outer chocks
may be arranged so as to swing with the davits as well as the inner chocks.
"
The boat being required to be put out the action is as follows:-The binding
chains are cast loose and the locking gear to frames or stands opened to release
the davits. A few turns of the winch lift the boat out of the chocks and cause
the stirrups to "ride over the davit heads which now carry the weight of the
boat and, by their projection beyond the fulcrum, the weight causes them to swing
outboard controlled by the ropes or chains from the winch, till they reach nearly
level with ships deck and the passengers can safely embark, without danger of
the boat being stove in against the ships side, as the stirrups are held close up to
the davit heads preventing any swinging, and the trigger catches prevent the
stirrups falling out board and the hooks detaching if the boat is struck by the sea.
The davits being swung out a little more and the winch ropes or chains slackened the
stirrups disengage from the heads and, the extreme "out board" position now being
reached, the davits are securely held by chains to the frames or stands, or other means
which take the strain off and prevent them going further.
The winch is now thrown out of gear and the boat is rapidly lowered into the
water by the action of the brake, either operated from the deck or from the boat,
by means of the hand line attached to the brake handle. In bringing in the boat,
the winch is put into gear and raises the boat till the stirrups come in contact
with the davit heads and the further working of the winch brings the davits and
boat inboard when the boat is lowered till it rests again in the chocks, or for more
rapid operation the winch barrels are operated direct by steam or other power.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
"
On the accompanying 4 sheets of Drawings we have illustrated our invention as we
propose to carry it into practical application in the case of a modern steamer in which
the davits are fixed upon the " poop or "bridge" deck, but the davits can be fixed
upon the lower or main deck when required and the boat may stand at any height
above the deck when resting in the chocks, as previously explained.
Fig. 1, sheet 1. shews a side elevation of the davits and winch looking outboard with
the boat resting in the chocks.
! ! Fig. 2, sheet 2, shews an end elevation of the davits with the boat resting in the
chocks and Fig. 3 shews the davits with the boat swung outboard and ready to be
lowered into the water.
Fig. 4 sheet 3-shews a longitudinal plan of the davits and boat as shewn'in Fig. 3,
'sheet 1.
.
***On sheet 4 are shewn 5 views of the winch which we propose to use. Fig. 5 is an
end elevation in the fore and aft direction: Fig. 6 a side elevation athwartships partly
in section through the line ✗-X Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an end elevation in section
through the line *-*Fig: 6: Fig. 8 is an elevation of the opposite end to that
shewn by Fig. 5, and Fig. 9 is a side elevation of Fig. 8.
}

page_text: The same letters refer to the same parts on all the drawings where such parts occur.
Referring now to sheets 1. 2 and 3. A A¹ are the davits having their fulcrums at B
in the frames or stands CC, which are secured to the deck, and in which they are
supported when inboard as shewn on Fig. 2-sheet 2-and are secured by the
catches D D. The davits are tied together and stiffened by fore and aft tie bars EE
and are constructed of double plates or bars with a space between in which are placed
the leading sheaves F F F2 F3 F4 for the wire ropes from the winch over the davit
heads to the attaching gear.
The winch is shown as fixed to the deck at one end of the davits, which will in some
cases be the most convenient position, but it may be fixed between the davits when
deck space is available. As it is shewn, one wire rope leads off each of the winch
barrels by leading sheaves to the davits A A¹. At the foot of each davit is a sheave G
attached to the frane by shackles from which the rope leads over the sheave H (carried
in the frame C) then between the sheaves F F1 (carried between the davit plates)
thence around the sheave J (carried in the frame C) to the sheave F2 in the davit and
so over the sheave F3 to and over the sheave F at Davit head to the attaching, gear
at each end of the boat.
The object of the 2 sheaves F F in the Davit may be explained as follows viz. :-
When the boat is first raised clear of the chocks by the winch the weight of the boat
causes the Davits to swing outboard until the rope leads in a straight line from the
sheave J to the sheave H, between the sheaves F F which now are neutral, and the
Davits may be retained in this neutral position ready to be swung entirely outboard or
to be brought back.
The course of the wire rope is very distinctly shewn on Fig. 3 sheet 2 when
the boat is over the side ready to receive the passengers and it will be seen that
when the Davits, with the boat, are to be brought inboard from this position the
power of the winch is doubled by the "bight" of the rope round the sheave F
at the foot of each davit. When thus swung outboard to their extreme position
the davits are supported by the chains K from the frames C and further supported
laterally by guy chains L from the deck to each davit head. When in the position
shewn on Fig. 3 the stirrups M which control the action of the detaching hooks
are clear of the horns on Davit heads and the boat is free to he lowered into the
water by the brake hand line N from on board the boat but the stirrups and the
detaching hooks, being held close up to the davit heads, there is no swing allowed to
cause the boat to be stove in against the ships side and the triggers M¹ prevent the
stirrups falling outward and detaching the hooks should the boat in this position be
struck by the sea.
The pulling of the hand line N either from the boat or deck simultaneously throws
the worm out of gear and applies the brake with the necessary holding power to
control the weight.
In swinging the boat outboard the weight of the boat and its occupants is
entirely carried by the stirrups M resting in the Davit heads until fully outboard
when on lowering being commenced, the weight is transferred direct to the rope.
On sheet Figs. 5. 6. 7. 8 and 9 shew the winch mechanism fully in detail. The
frames secured to the deck are braced together by the cross frames P in which are
the bearings of the shaft Q upon which is keyed the worm wheel R the projecting
bevilled sides of which form the brake wheel 'S and to each side of the worm wheel
and brake wheel, which is shewn are in one casting, are attached by bolts (but may be
a part of such casting) rope barrels T T¹ for the ropes or chains leading to each Davit
which are lead in the required directions over the sheaves in frames. The frames O
have in their upper ends the bearings of the worm spindle U upon which the worm
pinion may be either formed solid, as shewn, or keyed. One of these bearings is
formed so as nearly to fit the journal, the other so that the spindle can be lifted to an
extent sufficient to raise the teeth in the worn pinion quite clear of these in the worm
wheel R by the operation of the slotted cain lever V centred on a fulcrum at W and
worked either from the deck direct or by means of the hand line N from the boat as
before named the action of raising the worm pinion out of gear with the wheel

page_text: tightening the brake X upon the brake wheel S through the draw bar Y attached to
the worm spindle U and when the brake is in operation and the rope barrels T. T¹
controlled only by it the worm pinion is prevented falling into gear with the worm
wheel, should the land line be released, by a pawl Z which falls into a catch Z on the
cam lever V.
A hand wheel is provided for working the winch by manual power also a sheave
round which a messenger rope or chain may be lead from the main or donkey engine
or from one of the steam winches as may be convenient. The steam power will be
very serviceable when the boat has to be lifted quickly out of the water to avoid
damage from heavy seas the worm pinion being disconnected from the worm wheel
and when the boat is at the davit heads the worm may be connected the messenger
rope or chain being thrown off, and the boat swung in with the davits by manual
power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we
claim is :-
1. Ships davits swinging on fixed fulcrums and supported by fixed frames, the
swinging outboard or inboard and the lowering or raising of the boat being effected
simultaneously, and equally at both ends, by single ropes, cords or chains leading from
the barrels of a winch, or other winding appliance, operated by manual or other power,
by sheaves over the davit heads, to the detaching mechanism, without the intervention
of blocks, so that the boat may be lifted clear of the chocks, the davits swung outboard
by the winch and the boat lowered into the water by the action of a brake, operated
either from on board the boat or from the ships deck, such brake being put into
operation simultaneously with the winch mechanism being thrown out of operation ;
and that the boat may be raised out of the water to the davit heads and the davits
swung inboard by steam or other power applied to the winch barrels direct or the two
operations, or either of them, performed by manual power applied through the winch
mechanism.
2. In swinging davits the arrangement of sheaves marked F and F in such relation
to other sheaves in the fixed frames C and in the davits that when the boat is raised
clear of the chocks the davits will swing ontboard by the weight of the boat into a
position in which they will remain until the winch is operated so as to cause them to
move from that neutral position, either entirely outboard or to bring them back
inboard, substantially as described and shewn.
3. In combination with swinging davits a winch so constructed that manual steam
or other power may be applied to cause the davits to swing outboard or inboard and
the boat to be raised out of or lowered into the water or that the boat can be
lowered by the application of a brake which put into operation simultaneously
with the throwing out of operation of the winch mechanism as described and
illustrated.
4. The swinging davits and operating winch mechanism comprising the various
parts combined, constructed and operating substantially as described and illustrated
with the objects herein before set forth."
5. The application of triggers on davit heads locking the stirrups for the prevention
of the hooks detaching from the eyes or the eyes detaching from the hooks when the
boat is swung out with the davits to the outboard position.
T. J. DANSON, F.1.P.A.,
2, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle upon Tyne, Agent for Applicants.