Life Buoys on Board Ship.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1888
Complete Speci cation Left, 13th Aug.. 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 26th Oct., 1838
and Life Buoys on Board Ship.
We, JAMES BLACK, Shipmaster, of 3 Alberta Terrace, Ruthven Street, Hillhead,
Glasgow, and THOMAS CAMERON, Ship Carpenter, of 8 Dowanhill Place, Partick,
both in Lanarkshire, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction of
apparatus or arrangement and combination of mechanism for automatically holding,
perforating and instantly letting go with its life buoy attached one of the cainsters
known as Holmes Flare signals, authorized by the board of trade to be carried and
used on board of passenger steam ships, all by the use of a single line or cord led to
the bridge or other part of the ship and pulled by the person in command.
The nature and novelty of the invention, or construction and action of the apparatus,
consist all as follows:-Under one arrangement suitable for being placed over the
stern of the ship, a short horizontal plank ten or twelve inches or so in breadth is
secured with its end projecting back a few feet over the stern of the ship. The life
buoy bangs under the outer stern end of the said plank, by its cord passing over the
rounded end of the plank and is attached by two loops to the after slot pin of the canister
as bereinafter described, the canister being retained vertically on its lower flat end
over a round hole through the plank on a rear segmental plate with three retaining
vertical slide bars, some distance inwards from the cord and buoy which thus draw
the canister away freely when it is let go. These flare canister are of a short
cylindrical form flat on the bottom and slightly rounded or convex on the upper end
and have in the centre of both ends a small round patch or button part both of which
have to be pierced some distance in by a sharp spike to produce the light just before
letting the canister drop over board. On the inside of the canister so placed a strong
vertical standard or bracket is secured by a knee flange below screwed to the centre of
the upper inner face of the plank; while its top end which is some inches higher than
the canister, bas a knee bracket part in the form of a cross projecting forward over

page_text: the canister. In the centre of this fixed retaining cross armed bracket above, a sharp
spike stud is screwed with the sharp spike projecting down over the top centre of the
canister, so as to pierce it when the canister is raised for that purpose in and by the
action of piercing the lower end just before letting the canister free, all as will herein-
after be described. The aft centre, and two side arms, of this horizontal cross bracket
are of equal length a little more than the radius of canister, and have each a vertical
joint and cross pin formed on their outer end. into which joint the upper slotted end of
each of the before mentioned three vertical retaining sliding pin bolts are mounted,
having their lower ends fitted to work up and down in vertical round holes through
the brass segmental plate and plank, close on the rear and sides of the canister so as
to retain it in its said fixed vertical position, but so that when these three side bolts
are raised at the same time until their lower ends clear the holes in the plate, as
hereinafter described, then they free the canister which is instantly dragged over board
Ly the weight of the buoy hanging to it. The actuating mechanism consists of a lever
made in the form of a cross, mounted by a fulcrum pin and joint at the inner end of
its long arm to a joint stud screwed to the inner under side of the plank, with the two
short side and rear arms projecting aft under the said three holes through the plank,
having three push pins or studs secured in these arms so fitted as to project and work
upwards through the said three holes from the under side when the lever is raised
towards the plank and at the same time push up the locking slide bolts above. This
raising and lowering lever has also a sharp pointed spike with a large collar neck
secured near the centre of its cross arms projecting up so as to pierce the hole through
the centre of the lower end of the canister, and then raise it by the large collar which
passes up through the large hole in the plank so as to push the upper end of the
canister against the upper spike before mentioned and pierce that also. The lever is
steadied in its up and down motion in a U guide secured on the under side of the
plank so that the push bolts shall work up through their several holes, and the lever be
retained in its lowest normal position in the guide when not required for use.
cross weight is mounted on the outer after end of the lever for keeping it in its lowest
position, and a cord is carried vertically up from an eye on cach lateral end of this
weight over two pulleys on opposite sides of the plank, along the top of which they
are carried forward through guide eyes clear of the two side slip bolts, and joined
some distance forward over the centre of the plank to the after end of a single
actuating line or rope, carried forward to the bridge or other convenient part on deck,
where the officer in command of the ship can at once on emergency pull this rope,
which will raise the lower weighted lever and pierce the two ends of the canister, and
just after this has been done push up the three top slotted retaining bolts clear of
their holes in the segmental plate, so that the canister pierced as described is then
drawn away by the buoy and dropped into the sea, the letting go of the cord allowing
the weighted lever again to assume its lowest position ready for setting in a new
canister and replacing the three slip locking, or retaining bolts.again.
A

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with the Letting go of Flare Signals
and Life Buoys on Board Ship.
We, JAMES BLACK, Shipmaster of 3 Alberta Terrace, Ruthven Street, Hillhead,
Glasgow and THOMAS CAMERON, Ship Carpenter of 8 Dowanhill Place, Partick, both
in Lanarkshire 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 and comprises apparatus for the letting go of signals
of a certain kind viz. those known as Holmes's Lights and the like and life buoys on
board ship. The so called Holmes's light which has been authorized by the Board of
Trade to be carried and used on board of passenger and other ships consists of a
canister containing phosphide of calcium or other inextinguishable material or
chemical and provided with an air chamber or equivalent to cause it to float partly
immersed in the water. To make this canister operate as a signal light a small hole
has to be made or uncovered at each end of same; the canister is then thrown into
the water with or without a life buoy attached thereto and the water entering by one
of the said holes causes instant combustion of the phosphide of calcium which burus
with a brilliant flame at the other hole. Now according to our invention we provide
a lever, handle or other appliance for making or uncovering the required hole or holes
in the canister and thereupon or at the same time letting the canister and life buoy go
over the ship's side or stern into the water. Sometimes we operate the lever or other
appliance by a line rod or cord led to the bridge or other part of the ship where it can
be pulled by the person in command. In connection with this apparatus we sometimes
use a bridle or equivalent appliance for holding the canister in check at will after the
holes have been inade or uncovered. Part of our invention is applicable for letting
go life buoys not attached to the aforesaid canisters.
And in order that this invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect we shall now describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Under one arrangement shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3 which are respectively
sectional side view, plan and end view we fix on any suitable plank or other wood or
iron support such for instance as A at the side, stern, deck, rail or rigging of a ship
or boat a vertical standard or bracket such for instance as B. The upper part of this
standard B which is a little higher than the canister C bas parts or arms B₁ B² and B³
projecting respectively beyond the front and sides of the canister. In the centre of
these parts is provided a sharp spike stud D projecting down over the centre of the
canister C so as to pierce it when the canister is raised for that purpose in and by the
action of piercing the lower end of the canister just before letting the canister free.
The arms B B and B are placed against three sides of the canister nearly touching
it and have each a vertical joint and a cross pin b formed on their outer end into which

page_text: joint the upper slotted end of the vertical retaining bolts E' E' E³ are mounted (or
less or more might be applied), having their lower ends fitted to work up and down
in vertical or inclined holes through the plank or support A close on the rear and two
sides of the canister C so as to retain it in its fixed vertical position, but so that when
these three bolts E' E' E³ are raised at the same time until their lower ends clear the
holes in the plate A as hereinafter described then they free the canister which is
instantly dragged overboard by the weight of the buoy or other appliance M hanging
to it by the cord N. A bight of the rope I to the life buoy M is passed round the
leg E2 the lower end of which has a set off for the rope to clear the canister without
jamming.
The actuating mechanism for raising and piercing the canister and for letting it go
consists of a weight G normally resting in a cup or container H and having three push
pins or studs g so fitted as to project and work upwards through the said three holes
in the plank or support A for the slide bolts EE2 E3 from the underside when the
disc or weight G is raised towards the plank A and at the same time push up the said
slide bolts free of the plank. This raising and lowering disc G has also a sharp
pointed spike 1 with a large collar neck or ejecting stud or plunger at the centre of
the canister and the upper spike D. When the weight G is raised this spike I will
raise the canister, the collar I passed up through a corresponding hole in the plank A,
so as to push the upper end of the canister against the upper spike D whereby the
upper end of the canister is pierced and at the same time the lower end of the canister
will also be pierced by the spike I. The weight G is steadied in its up and down
motion in the cup H, suitable guide, feathers and grooves being provided on the
weight and cup which latter is secured to the underside of the plank. The weight of G
is such as to keep it normally at the bottom of the cup H and a cord H' is carried up
from an eye on each side of the weight and over two pulleys K on opposite sides of
the plank
or support A and jointed to the after end of a single actuating line or rope
carried forward to the bridge or other convenient part on deck where the officer in
command of the ship can at once on an emergency pull this rope, which will raise the
weight G and pierce the two ends of the canister and push up the three top slotted
retaining bolts E¹ E2 E³ clear of their holes in the plank. The leg E¹ will then by
the weight of the life buoy M be pulled out of the bight of the rope L so that the
canister pierced as described is then drawn away by the buoy and dropped into the sea
the buoy and canister being however connected to each other by the rope or line N
and again replacing the three slip locking or retaining bolts E E E³. In order to
prevent the canister for life buoy from being too suddenly disengaged by the means
described we prefer to attach to the bolt E2 by a loop on bight round the same a
bridle T the ends of which are attached to the operating ropes H¹ so that the leg E²
will be retained in place thereby until the canister has been properly pierced when on
releasing the line H³ the weight of the life buoy drags the canister with it.
Figure 4 is a side view and Figure 5 a sectional plan taken on line X, X, of an
arrangement used in connection with the other form of Holmes bight viz. where the
canister has a hole at each end covered by a strip of metal which at one end is
soldered over the hole and which has a tag or end for taking hold of for tearing the
strip off and thus uncover the hole. On the bracket B are provided lateral arms B¹ B¹
partly surrounding or enclosing the canister. To this bracket B is jointed a lever G
with weight G at one end where it is jointed to a slotted rod E2 as in the previous
example. Between this and the fulcrum the lever is provided with a clip which can
be attached to the tag end of a metal strip D. the other end of which is soldered over
a hole in the upper end of the canister C. A connecting rod R is jointed to the
lever G and to a lever G2 which is provided with a clip which can be attached to the
tag end of a metal strip I the other end of which is soldered over a hole in the bottom
end of the canister C. On depressing the lever G the tags D and I are torn off from
over the holes in the canister top and bottom. Thereupon the retaining rod E2 is
lifted out of its hole, thereby liberating the bight of rope L to the life buoy the
weight of which will pull the canister away with it overboard. The lever G may of
course by means of a line be actuated from the bridge or other part of the ship.

page_text: .
Figure 6 shows a side view and Figure 7 a plan of a piercing and releasing
arrangement in which the bottom piercer I and three studs are on a lever G with
weight G the lever being raised by a line H' and the action being the same as in
figures 1, 2 and 3.
The
Figure S is a plan view, figure 9 side view and figure 10 end view of another form
of piercing and releasing arrangement figures and 10° being sectional detail
views. The canister C is in this case introduced into a box or case E when its
hinged lid E is raised, the opposite side of the box being open to the sea.
canister is kept in place by two retaining bolts EE the lower ends of which as in
the previous cases enter holes in the bottom of the casing E while their upper slotted
ends are pinjointed to the brackets Bon the casing E. To piece the two ends of the
canister and to raise these rods for allowing it to be dragged out of the case 1 employ
a lever G with two sides or parts which pass along each end of the casing E being
mounted there on a hollow boss G¹ projecting from each end of the casing. Within
each hollow boss is a piston D with piercing point, square part D1 and circular part 1)²
which latter has one or more (in this case three) cam grooves d into which work
corresponding hugs formed on or studs inserted into the fulcrum bosses of the lever G.
S is a double armed lever, one end of which takes under bosses, formed on the
rods E2 E2 while the other end comes under the upper transverse part of the lever G
and is of such a form that no motion is imparted to it by the lever G at the first part
of its stroke in the direction of the arrow. During this first part the lugs or studs
travelling in one slanting part of the cam grooves d will propel the pistons D² with
the spikes D so that the latter pierce the canister at each end. During the next or
latter part of tho stroke of the lever G the studs will travel back in the other slanting
part of the cam grooves thus withdrawing the spikes again to get clear of the
canister, and meanwhile the upper transverse part of the lever G will depress the
outer part of the left hand end of the levers S thus raising the right hand arm of
same and therewith also the retaining bolts E2 E2 thus allowing the canister to be
dragged out by the weight of the life buoy connected thereto.
Figures 11, 11 and 12 are respectively front elevation in part section, side eleva-
tion and plan of another form of apparatus in which the canister C is placed within a
cage or framing consisting for instance of two pillars E fixed to a bedplate or
plank A and a cross bar or disc D' with a piercer D. This piercer or pricker is kept
clear of the top of the canister by means of a disc O having a hole in its centre for
the piercer and which is kept clear of the piercer by means of one or more springs P.
At the other end is a similar disc O' with spring or springs P1, having also a hole
through it for the piercer I beneath it. This latter is on a movable base G which is
suitably guided on the pillars E and by means of the rods G is connected with the
handle K so that when the latter is raised the movable base G is raised the springs P
and P become compressed and the piercers D and I form a hole in each end of the
cannister and we may sometimes provide a rod acting as a guard in front somewhat
similar to E2 in figure 16 hereafter described having a catch to retain it in its highest
position thus allowing the easy disengagement of the canister. It will be seen that
rod E is pivotted to the disc B' at the top and takes into the recess in A' at the
bottom in such manner that when the disc A' has been raised the rod E2 is carried
up with it and is retained in the highest position by means of the catch e on the
upper disc B1 thus permitting the canister to be dragged out by the weight of the life
buoy. The discs 0 and O₁ are in the compressed state of the springs P P held fast
by catch hooks Q.
Figures 13, 14 and 15 are side view end view and plan of another form of
apparatus in which the canister is held within brackets E or may be placed in a
cage similar to that in figure 8. The gate E2 is formed with a lug C for a bolt E to
pass through to hold the canister in place. The bolt E is further guided in the
projecting part C2 and is jointed to a lateral extension or part G'of the lever G. This
lever G is provided with a piercer I) and is by a rod R connected to a lever G² which
carries the piercer 1 for the other end of the canister. It will be noticed that the
piercing is done first by moving the lever G to the left dotted line in figure 13. The

page_text: lever is then moved back beyond the normal position to the right hand dotted-line
figure 13 whereby the bolt E is drawn out of the eye (so that the canister can be
dragged out by the life buoy attached thereto.
Figure 16 is a sectional side view of an apparatus for letting go a canister in which
the holes have already been made or uncovered or a life buoy alone. In this
example the leg E2 is pushed up for disengaging by a stud on a lever G with handle K
somewhat similar to the example in figure 6 thus admitting of the release of the life
buoy or canister either by means of a rope running forward to the bridge or by
means of the handle K.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
First. The application and use for the purposes of making or uncovering a hole.
at each end of a Holmes signal or canister containing phosphide of calcium or other.
equivalent material of a moving weight or handle for actuating prickers for making
the holes or clips for taking hold of and removing hole covering strips and for dis-
engaging the canister substantially as set forth.
Second. The constructions of apparatus shown and described.