IMPROVEMENTS IN SUSPENDING AND AUTOMATIC DISENGAGING APPARATUS FOR BOATS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN ROBERT NIXON, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SUSPENDING AND AUTOMATIC DISENGAGING APPARATUS FOR BOATS
to be as
follows:-
33
My invention relates to apparatus to be employed for the suspension of boats
from ship's sides or other places, and it is designed to afford, a simple and effective
automatic release of the boat immediately its weight relieved by the water,
from. the lowering tackle.
The nature of my device is as follows:-
Attached to the boat at each end is a double eye, forming a jaw across the boats
axis. Through the eyes and across the jaw is a bolt, with which the hook of the
davit tackle engages to suspend the boat. The two bolts, one through each double
eye, are fitted to a connecting frame running on suitable guides. This frame has
sufficient longitudinal play to withdraw the bolts attached thereto simultaneously
from across the jaws, and thus to release the tackle hooks; but this play is limited
by a stop before the bolts are entirely withdrawn from the eyes in one side of the
jaws. The frame is pressed against the stop, conveniently by a spiral spring on
the bolt at one end between the double eye and the connecting frame, or by a
weight. The effect of this pressure is to normally hold the bolts clear from the
jaws; but it has not sufficient power to exert itself against the frictional bite of
the bolts in the double eye when the boat is suspended. Immediately, however,
the weight of the boat is taken by the water, the frictional grip due to its weight
is relaxed, and the spring pressure immediately and automatically withdraws the
bolts at both ends of the boat simultaneously.
Tinted thin and day of Inor 1001
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, JOHN ROBERT NIXON, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester,
Engineer, Do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SUSPENDING AND AUTOMATIC DISENGAGING APPARATUS FOR BOATS," and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to apparatus to be employed for the suspension of Boats
over Ships sides or other places, and it is designed to afford a simple and effective
automatic release of the boat immediately its weight is relieved by the water
from the lowering tackle.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed reference being
had to the letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts
throughout the figures.
Figure 1. represents a boat fitted with my device in plan.
Figure 2. shows the same in elevation,
Figures 3 and 4 show the suspending hook and engaging bolt in Section and
Plan respectively.
Figure 5 shows details of Counterpoise to effect the release of the hook,
Figures 6 and 7 show alternative spring arrangements to effect the same object.
Figure 8 shows the handle and lever for returning my device into position to
engage with the davit hook.
Figure 9 shows details of a frame joint and
Figure 10 shows detail of guide and stop.
Attached to the boat at each end is a double eye A forming a jaw across the
boat's axis. Through the eyes and across the jaw is a bolt B with which the
hook C of the davit tackle engages to suspend the boat. The two bolts B one
through each double eye A are fitted to a connecting frame E running on suitable
guides F.
This frame has sufficient longitudinal play to withdraw the bolts attached
thereto simultaneously from across the jaws A, and thus to release the tackle
books C; But this play is limited by a stop G (shown in detail in Figure 10)
before the bolts are entirely withdrawn from the eyes in one side of the jaws.
This stop, though shown at G, may be placed at any other part of the frame.
The frame is pressed against the stop conveniently by a spiral spring H on the
boat at one end between the double eye and the connecting frame (as shown in
detail in Figures 6 & 7) or with the spring used in tension in place of compression
between the frame and a suitable attachment on the boat as shown in Figures 1
& 2 at H or the same effect may be produced by means of a weighted Bellcrank
as shown in detail in two positions in Figure 5; the black lined representation of
the Bellerank showing the bolt home in the eyes, and pressing the unweighted end
of the crank, and the dotted line representation showing the weight taking effect
and pressing the bolts back from across the jaws.
It will be seen that the pressure is not applied directly to the bolt, but to packing
pieces affixed thereto. The effect of this pressure where applied by spring or
weight is to normally hold the bolts clear of the jaws; but it has not sufficient
power to exert itself against the frictional bite of the bolts in the double eye when
the bolt is suspended. Immediately however the weight of the boat is taken by
the water the frictional grip due to its weight is released, and the pressure by

page_text: spring or by weight immediately and automatically withdraws the bolts at both
ends of the boats simultaneously.
In order to push the frame home when it is desired to sling the boat, and engage
the tackle hook with the bolt, I affix a hand lever K to any suitable part of the
frame, and this hand lever is shown in detail at Figure 8, L being a plug to make
all secure when the boat is suspended.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The construction of a suspending and automatic disengaging apparatus for boats
consisting of bolts connected by a frame, normally held from across jaws by
spring or weight pressures when the boat is not suspended, and held across
same by frictional bite when the boat is suspended, together with subsidiary
parts substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Dated thin Oud daw of Ontahan 1001.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.