Improvements in Rafts, applicable also as Pontoons.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rafts, applicable also as Pontoons.
I, FELIX ROWLAND JOHN MATTHEWS of Manor House, Shaldon in the
County of Devon, Trinity Pilot, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has reference to rafts, applicable also as pontoons, that can be
collapsed or folded up so as to occupy a comparatively small space when not
required for use, and can be readily opened out when required, and, when so opened
out, will have great buoyancy and strength and will be capable of supporting a
considerable load on the water.
For these purposes there are employed two or more longitudinal collapsible
vessels or floats, hereinafter called vessels, formed of suitable material, such as
canvas, that renders them practically air and water tight.
Each vessel which may be of cylindrical form with tapered ends, is provided
with a number of transverse walls or partitions that divide it into a number of
water tight compartments or bulkheads, each of which may be separate from the
adjacent ones. The walls or partitions can be secured in place by external wire or
other bands or clamps. Each of the compartments thus formed is provided with a
valve that can be readily opened and closed for the entrance and escape of air when
the vessel is being extended or collapsed respectively and with an opening, normally
closed, by which water, that may have gained access to the compartment after
prolonged use, can be pumped out.
The collapsible vessels constructed as described are connected with each other by
transverse rods, bars, or struts that serve to maintain them at a suitable distance
apart, and serve also as girders for carrying a deck or flooring formed of a number
of boards or parts hinged or jointed together in such a manner that they will fold
up when the longitudinal vessels are collapsed. The deck or flooring can be hinged
or jointed to the first and last transverse rods, bars, or struts and also to some of
the intermediate ones if desired.
In one construction, suitable for use as a raft, the deck or flooring is provided at
the sides with bulwarks, of flexible material, such as canvas, supported by stanchions
fixed to the rigid portions of the longitudinal vessels, or to the transverse members
connecting them, or to both, the bulwarks being connected at the ends by walls
preferably of rigid material.
To the underside of the transverse bars or members may be secured flexible
material, so as to form therewith and the deck or flooring, a number of water-tight
compartments suitable for containing various articles, such as fresh water and
provisions.
The raft may be maintained in its extended position for use in various ways. In
one arrangement, a rod in one or more pieces extends through each longitudinal
vessel, passing through the transverse walls or partitions therein, and also through
flexible tubes that may connect these walls or partitions when each compartment is
to be separate from the others. The rod is connected to the ends of the vessel by
any suitable means, such as by screwing. The ends of the longitudinal vessels
may project beyond the ends of the deck or flooring.
For use as a pontoon, the raft can be made in comparatively short lengths each
provided with suitable means for readily connecting and disconnecting it to and
from adjacent lengths. The hinged or jointed flooring can be held down flat, to
keep the raft extended, by one or more rigid bars or by hinged or jointed bars
capable of being readily secured to the deck or flooring, and of being folded up

page_text: therewith when necessary. In some cases the collapsible longitudinal vessels may
be made in comparatively short lengths adapted to be readily connected and dis-
connected to and from the transverse rods, bar or struts, and the deck or flooring.
Dated this 19th day of July 1890. ·
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rafts, applicable also as Pontoons.
I, FELIX ROWLAND JOHN MATTHEWS of Manor House, Shaldon, in the
County of Devon, Trinity Pilot do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :--
This invention has reference to rafts, applicable also as pontoons, that can be
collapsed or folded up so as to occupy a comparatively small space when not
required for use and can be readily opened out when required, and, when so opened
out will have great buoyancy and strength and will be capable of supporting a
considerable load on the water.
:
For these purposes there are employed two or more longitudinal collapsible
vessels or floats, hereinafter called vessels, formed of suitable material, such as
canvas, that renders them practically air and water tight.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. is a plan of a pontoon or raft constructed according to this invention,
part of the flooring being removed.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof showing the application thereto of railings and
bulwarks when the same is to be used as a raft.
Fig. 3 shows the pontoon or raft in its collapsed or folded state.
Fig. 4 is a section of one of the collapsible vessels hereinbefore mentioned.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line x x Fig. 1 and
Fig. 6 shews a detail hereinafter referred to.
AA are the collapsible vessels which are as shown of cylindrical form and serve
to float the raft. They are subdivided by bulkheads or transverse partitions B B
into separate watertight compartments the vessels on each side of the pontoon or
raft being rigidly connected by cross pieces or struts C C secured between corre-
sponding bulkheads which cross pieces serve also to support the ends of the floor
sections D. The bulkheads or partitions B may be of circular form and have
grooves in their peripheries into which the canvas of the chamber may be bound
by an external wire, B¹ or by bands, or the said partitions may be otherwise.
secured in place in the vessels. Each of the compartments thus formed is provided
with a valve that can be readily opened and closed for the entrance and escape of
air when the vessel is being extended or collapsed. This valve may be of the
form shewn in Fig. 6 consisting of a narrow slotted piece E in which a tongue E¹
is fitted to slide, this tongue serving, when over the slot to close the same water
tight.
This valve opening may also be used for pumping out any water that may have
gained access to the compartment after prolonged use. A separate aperture
provided with suitable means for closing the same may however be employed for
this purpose.
The cross pieces or struts C that serve to maintain the vessels A a suitable distance
apart, serve also as stated for carrying the deck or flooring formed of a number of
sections or parts D hinged or jointed together in such a manner that they will fold

page_text: up when the vessels A are collapsed. The said sections D are preferably hinged
or jointed to the two end cross pieces or struts C and also to each alternate one of
the intermediate cross pieces.
The hinged or jointed flooring can be held down flat, to keep the raft extended
when it is to be used as a pontoon, by one or more rigid bars or by hinged or
jointed bars capable of being readily secured to the deck or flooring, and of being
folded up therewith when necessary. For this purpose a bar F (Fig. 1) may be
employed which extends along, and overlaps, the adjacent ends of the sections
which are not hinged to the cross pieces. This bar is secured in position between
a pair of eyes or clips G which are secured to the corresponding cross piece C and
project sufficiently above the flooring to allow the insertion of the ends of the
bar F.
For use as a raft bulwarks H may be provided at the sides as shown in Fig. 2
formed of flexible material such as canvas, supported by stanchions H¹ fixed to the
bulkheads or to the cross pieces C connecting them, or to both. The opposite
bulwarks may if desired be connected at the ends by rigid walls.
Between the cross pieces or struts C may be secured receptacles or wallets I
formed of flexible material as for instance of canvas, which will fold up or collapse
with the outer vessels A and which serve for containing various articles, such as
fresh water and provisions. The water may be withdrawn from the fresh
water receptacle by means of a tube provided for the purpose and communicating
with the interior thereof.
The raft may be maintained in its extended position for use in various ways.
In one arrangement, a rod or bar J formed in one or more lengths extends through
each of the vessels A as shewn in Fig. 4 passing through the bulkheads or
partitions B therein, or through flexible tubes K which extend the whole length of
the vessel A and connect the bulkheads or partitions whereby each compartment is
kept separate from the others. The rod J abuts against or is secured in a socket
in one of the ends of the vessel A while an externally screw threaded cap J' free
to rotate on the rod J enters a screw threaded aperture A¹ in the other end of the
vessel A. The ends of the longitudinal collapsible vessels A may project beyond
the ends of the deck or flooring.
For use as pontoons the rafts may be made of comparatively short length each
provided with suitable means such as lashing screws or toggles for readily con-
necting and disconnecting it to and from adjacent lengths.
When the pontoons are used for a military bridge the passage of artillery or
other heavy bodies may be greatly facilitated by laying rails along the upper part
of the vessels A, these rails being held in position by suitable chairs secured on
the bulkheads these chairs being provided with jaws between which the rails can
be slid endwise. The said chairs serve to retain the rails firmly against lateral
movement and may be mounted on swivel joints so that they can be rotated
slightly and thereby the jaws can be caused to grip the rail.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a raft or pontoon, longitudinal collapsible vessels each divided into water
tight compartments by bulkheads or partitions and having suitable apertures for
the inlet and outlet of air substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A collapsible raft or pontoon comprising suitable vessels divided into water tight
compartments by bulkheads or partitions and extending along the sides of the raft
or pontoon, and having between them suitably hinged or jointed flooring sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described.
3. A collapsible raft or pontoon comprising the vessels A divided by bulkheads B
and connected by cross pieces C which support the hinged flooring D with or
without the bulwarks H the railings or stanchions H' or the receptacles or wallets I
substantially as described.

page_text: 4. The hereinbefore described improvements in rafts applicable also as pontoons,
substantially as set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, for the
purposes specified.
Dated this 18th day of April 1891.
FELIX ROWLAND JOHN MATTHEWS.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.