Improvement in Rafts for Saving the Lives of Ship-wrecked People.
Year: 1899

page_text: Canto Dan
Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1899
2000
CALL
4000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Rafts for Saving the Lives of Ship-wrecked People.
I, MAX PESCHMANN, Goldsmith and Jeweller, residing at 4, Friedländerstrasse,
Waldenburg, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a life-preserver, which has the advantage over all
the well known life preservers, that the upper part of the body is kept floating
above the water and being therefore not exposed to become stiff and benumbed.
This great advantage will be attained by sitting on a plank which is being
kept afloat above the water by means of air-cushions, and ample space is being
left for the leg between this and the other planks, all of which are well framed
together, thus forming the frame of the life preserving float. The person takes
a sent on a plank, which serves her as a saddle, putting her legs through the open
spaces left between those planks.
Several planks are kept together by means of cross-pieces, thus forming the
frame of the life preserving float. These planks are kept afloat by means of
air-cushions which may be made out of one piece, or may be divided in several
parts under each of these planks.
Between these planks are spaces, which serve for putting the legs through
during the ride on one of these planks.
According to the required size and capacity of the float, three or more planks
will form the frame of the same, for the protection of the occupants both sides
of the float are provided with railings.
To get a person out of the water who has become weakened by exposure and
long stay on the float the planks are connected by a waterproof stuff.
To keep the lives in the bodies of these persons rescued by the float, pro-
visions are provided in waterproof boxes, suitably fastened on the exterior
planks, or fastened with cords to the crosspieces. The boxes also may contain
means of signalling, . rockets, Greek fire and the like.
The overturning of the float or raft, which is on acount of the construction
improbable, may be still prevented by providing weights at the corners of the
raft. The weight of same will be suspended by floaters; but in case one side
of the ruft should rise out of the water, the weights attached to this side will be
brought into action and will bring the float back to its normal position. How-
ever, should the raft turn upside down, according to its construction the under-
side may be used for the same purpose just as well, the arrangement of the
boxes making same accessible from both sides.
The raft or float is therefore characterized by a frame made out of planks and
crosspieces, which are provided with air cushions, and which frame contains
weights at each corner, whose weight is suspended by floaters during the im-
mersion of the raft (float) also being provided on both sides with easily accessible
arrangements to store up provisions and signalling utensils.
Dated this 30th day of November 1899.
ERICH PELERS,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: I, MAX PESCHMANN, Goldsmith and Jeweller, residing at 4, Friedländerstrasse,
Waldenburg, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, 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:-
My invention rolates to the construction of a life-saving raft, which has
the following advantages over the known systems:
1. It is able to keep the body of the person outside the water.
2. It cannot capsize while a person climbs on it and all the load is on one side.
3. It is provided with such arrangements as are necessary for the life and
safety of persons, who may have to stay on it for some time.
In the accompanying drawings Figs. 1–7 give an illustation of this inven-
tion.
Fig. 1 is a side view of a small raft for 1-3 persons.
Fig. 2 shows the raft, seen from above.
Fig. 3 is a side view of a larger raft intended for a great number of persons,
drawn to a smaller scale than Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 shows the latter ruft, seen from above.
Fig. 5 is a cross section of the floating bodies, and the end of the smaller raft,
drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 shows the same section and the arrangement of the boxes for pro-
visions and the like.
Fig. 7 is a plan of Fig. 6.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in all the figures.
The raft generally consists of two light longitudinal beams (a) joined by
cross-boards (b, c). These cross-boards carry the floating-bodies (h) which may
consist of rubber air cushions, or of air-tight zinc boxes, or, similar to the
known saving-belts, of oiled canvas filled with cork. In Figs. 1-4 these float-
ing-bodies (h) are fixed under the carrying boards, while in Figs. 5 and 7 they
are arranged between two seat-boards. Fig. 5 represents an air-tight zine box
which, for example, is screwed or nailed to the boards by means of lateral angle-
irons. Fig. 6 however shows thin side walls (p) between which and the scat-
boards () the canvas is arranged, which contains the cork pieces.
In order to prevent the capsizing of the raft its four corners are provided
with a special arrangement which consists of a floating-body (f) of suitable size
fixed to a ring-screw (g) and carrying a weight (g). Now as long as the raft swims
Hat on the water, its floating-bodies (f) help to increase its carrying capacity,
but if it is loaded on one side, for instance while a person is climping up, the
floating bodies () must on this side first be pressed under water and thus act
upwards, while on the other side the floating-bodies with their weights come
out of the water and tend to pull the raft downwards.
The ends of the raft are provided with reservoirs (i, k) for the reception of
suitable provisions and signal apparatus. In this invention importance is
attached only to its arrangement, but not to the form and construction of the
apparatus. Thus, for example, in the small raft, Figs. 1 and 2 a closed drum (i)
is fixed to screw-rings () by means of spring-hooks (s) and yet it can be easily
loosened.
In the large raft. Figs. 3 and 4 a water-tight box () with closing lids () is
provided, which is fixed firmly between the long beams (a) and at the same time
serves as floating-body. But in Figs. 6 and 7 this reservoir is situated between
-

page_text: two seat-boards suitably cut out for the lids (2). This construction should always
be used for very large rafts as it protects the reservoirs against damage.
As to further fittings there are the lateral ring-screws (e) to which ropes with
rings are attached to tug the raft or for fixing articles of any kind.
There are also the bow-screws (d) and in the large raft, a low railing, to
serve for safety or also for the fixing of articles.
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:-
In a life saving raft consisting of two longitudinal beams (a) connected with
each other by several cross boards (b, c) which serve as seats or carrying-boards,
the arrangement of floating-bodies in form of air reservoirs of india-rubber or
zinc or cork cushions, further the arrangement of water-tight, easily accessible
and easily removable reservoirs (i, k) between the longitudinal heams, for pro-
visions and signal-apparatus, and the arrangement of floating-bodies (f) with
weight (g) suspended at the four ends of the beams (a) to prevent the capsizing
of the raft.
Dated this 21st day of June 1900