IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Lamb, of Southampton, and John White, of
Cowes, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS."
Sealed the 4th March 1859, and dated the 8th September 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Lamb and
John White at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 8th September 1858.
We, ANDREW LAMB; of Southampton, and JoпN WHITE, of Cowes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS," to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of life
boats. The importance of giving the greatest amount of stability, and, displace-
ment to ships' boats is now so well understood as desirable to be combined.
with roominess and great strength to enable them to bear their weight when
hoisted up to ships davids, and which we have from time to time effected
by such improvements as experience has suggested: The present improvements
are such as will render our sea-going life boats still more efficient and more.
generally useful, at the same time more safe.
We construct life boats according to our Invention with longitudinal water-.
tight compartments, built on each side of the boat; and extending nearly from
stem to stern, (the centres of gravity of displacement of which should' the
boat be filled by a sea,) are so high as to make it almost impossible for the
boat to be capsized.

page_text: We introduce two or more delivery tubes with valves so constructed as to
prevent the admission of water from without, and free the boat from the water
within, that is, above the level of the water outside; and we so place and
arrange these tubes with reference to the calculated centres of gravity of
displacement of the boat, as to make the boat available for carrying out the
largest anchor from the ship; the anchor being slung under the bottom of the
boat, and being a life boat, should she ship a sea, there will be sufficient
buoyancy in the air-tight compartments to carry the anchor and crew with
safety, while an ordinary boat would be buried by the waves, and conse-
quently sink. These valves will also admit air, should such a contingency as
the boat's capsizing occur, and the crew be confined underneath, where they
would be safe, there being sufficient head room for them between the thwarts
and the bottom. In addition to the water plugs at the lower part of the air
cases, we introduce screw plugs at the top of the said water-tight compart-
ments, by which a free current of air may be passed through the cases, and
thus ensure their durability.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Andrew Lamb and John White in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th March 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ANDREW
LAMB, of Southampton, and JOHN WHITE, of Cowes, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eight day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Andrew Lamb and John White, Her special licence that we, the
said Andrew Lamb and John White, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Andrew Lamb and John White,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Andrew Lamb and
John White, by an instrument in writing under our hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and

page_text: in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calender months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Andrew Lamb and John White,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Drawing:-
:
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of life.
boats. The importance of giving the greatest amount of stability and displace-
ment to ships' boats is now well understood as desirable to be combined with
roominess and great strength, to enable them to bear their weight when
hoisted up to ships' davits, and we have from time to time effected such
improvements as experience has suggested; but the present improvements are
such as will render our sea-going life boats still more efficient, and more.
generally useful, at the same time more safe.
We construct life boats acccording to our Invention with longitudinal water-
tight compartments, built on each side of the boat, and extending nearly from
stem to stern, the centres of gravity and displacement of which (should the
boat be filled by a sea) are so high as to make it almost impossible for the
boat to be capsized.
We introduce two or more delivery tubes with valves 50 constructed as to
prevent the admission of water from without, and free the boat from the water
within, that is, above the level of the water outside; and we so place and
arrange these tubes with reference to the calculated centres of gravity and
displacement of the boat, as to make the boat available for carrying out the
largest anchor from the ship, the anchor being slung under the bottom of the.
boat, and (being a life boat) should she ship a sea, there will be sufficient
buoyancy in the air-tight compartments to carry the anchor and crew with safety.
whilst an ordinary boat would be buried by the waves, and consequently sink,
These valves will also admit air, should such a contingency as the boat's
capsizing occur, and the crew be confined underneath, where they would be
safe, there being sufficient head room for them between the thwarts and the.
bottom.
In addition to the water plugs at the lower part of the air cases, we
introduce screw plugs at the top of the said water-tight compartments, by which
a free current of air may be passed through the cases, and thus ensure their.
durability.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a life boat constructed.
according to our Invention; Fig. 2 being a cross section of Fig. 1 taken on

page_text: the line A, B, and shewing the two side air cases in section, and the raised
stern compartment, the tiller yoke and other parts of the life. boat, and also a
section of the anchor, suspended. below the boat; Fig. 3 is, a. longitudinal
section of Fig. 1; shewing the head and stern.compartments, and the position
of the two delivery tubes, through which the anchor which is shown as; hung
beneath the boat, is slung by means of rope lashings passed through the tubes;
and so secured as to be within reach and under the command of the crew (as
shewn in Fig. 1); Figs. 4 & 5 represent transverse sections in outline of the
body of the boat and side air cases only.
.In the several Figures in the accompanying Drawing, a and b are water-
tight compartments at the head and stern of the boat; c and d are water com
partments or air cases running longitudinally along the sides of the boat, and
carried up to the gunwale; e and f are delivery tubes, as herein-before described;
for the purpose of freeing the boat from water, should it rise. above the
external level, which tubes are intended to be fitted with valves which are
removable when the boat has to be. used for carrying out an. anchor, and they
can be replaced in a few moments when the lashings are removed; 9; 9, are
the water plugs fitted at the lower part of the air cases, or longitudinal water-
tight compartments, which.in practice may be placed lower than where.shewn
in Fig. 3; and g', 9', are the screw plugs at the top of the longitudinal air cases;
or water-tight compartments, which plugs: are unscrewed or removed when the
boat is out of use, for the purpose of producing a circulation of air within. the
Jongitudinal air-tight cases, so as to perfectly dry and preserve the interior
thereof; h, h, are screw plugs fitted, to the water-tight head and stern com-
partments, and i, i, are hand hole covers fitted on the decking or top side of
each of the compartments a and b, and by the removal of which food, stores;
or other articles may be deposited in safety, and kept dry; k, the anchor, which
is slung below the boat, but at an angle with the line of the keel, as indicated
by the position of the tubes e, f, shown on plan Fig: 1; L, l, the cable attached
to the anchor, and coiled as shewn in the several Figures 1, 2, & 3.
Life boats, thus constructed, combine lightness with great strength, which
enables them to be. hauled up and suspended to the ship's davits, without risk
of straining or injuring the boat; the disposition of the longitudinal air cases
and head and stern compartments, gives greatly increased safety over every
other construction of life boat heretofore in use, and renders it impossible for
the boat to be sunk when filled with persons, or when carrying out the heaviest
anchors, suspended or slung in manner described. By the introduction of the
delivery tubes the boat may be made available for carrying out safely the
largest anchor from the ship in the event of her going on a lee shore, or under

page_text: other circumstances, whilst, by the addition of valves, fitted to the delivery
tubes, and constructed to open downward for the discharge of water from
within, after shipping a sea; or, when from any other cause, the water may rise
above the external level, the boat is freed therefrom by permitting its escape
through the delivery tubes; and by the introduction of screw plugs in the top
side of the longitudinal air cases, in addition to the water plugs at the lower
part of the air cases, they may be preserved in a perfectly sound condition;
thus we have combined within the same boat advantages not heretofore
possessed by any other construction of life boats.
Having now described our Invention, and illustrated the same by the
accompanying Drawing, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our
Invention,
First, the construction of life boats as herein described, with two or more
delivery tubes and valves, and the introduction of screw plugs in addition to
water plugs or valves in the air cases, as described.
Second, the application or adaptation of air tubes to any form or description
of life boat, by which, in case of the overturning of the boat, air may be
supplied to those who are confined within, such tubes being also so placed
with reference to the centre of displacement, as to make such boats available
for carrying out anchors as described, and when fitted with suitable valves,
permit of the discharge of water from such boats, whilst they prevent the
admission of water through them from without.
In witness whereof, I, the said John White, on behalf of myself and
Andrew Lamb, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-
third day of February, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness to the signature of John White,
JOHN S. WHITE,
Cowes, Isle of Wight.
JOHN WHITE. (L.S.)