IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE RAFTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LIFE RAFTS." A communication from abroad by Nicholas Hermann Borg
feldt, of the City, County, and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 11th August 1876, and dated the 1st March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st March 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE RAFTS.".
"
This Invention relates to an improved life raft to be used on ships, and consists,
first, in combining a series of reticulated or other bags or receptacles with rigid
traverses and jointed rows of floats in such manner as to render the raft reversible.
With flexible bags applied between the traverses the raft is reversible, and will be
in position for saving life in whichever manner it may be thrown into the sea,
though it may also be used with continuous aprons extending from end to end of
the raft.
The jointed floats are made of cork or other material, and connected by cross bars
or traverses, and between every pair of floats the spaces between the respective
traverses are filled with flexible bags or receptacles, which are preferably constructed
of reticulated material. These bags are attached with their ends to the floats and
to the traverses, so as to form flexible receptacles within the open spaces formed by
said floats and traverses. When the float is on the water, either side up, the bags
will constitute depressed receptacles for the persons on the raft.
A second feature of improvement consists in the combination of the jointed
floats, which are united by traverses with a rope ladder, which will serve as a means
of escape from a wrecked or other injured vessel to the float. By the use of the
said ladder, which constitutes a permanent attachment to the raft while on board
ship, the whole length of the raft can be utilized for life saving purposes; yet, after
the passengers have left the ship, the rope ladder can be readily detached from the
raft to prevent the latter sinking with the ship.
When for use the ladder is with its upper end secured to the gunwale, rail, or side
of the vessel, while its lower end connects with the raft, so as to enable the persons
on board ship to easily reach the raft. This ladder should be of nearly the same
rn

page_text: width as the raft, so that it may be used by a considerable number of persons
simultaneously.
Thirdly. This Invention consists in providing the said rope ladder with a series
of traverses or stiff rungs of wood, metal tubing, or equivalent material, which will
alternate with the flexible rungs, and will keep the ladder spread to its full width,
and render it easier for the passengers to use the ladder, as many persons find
great difficulty in using an altogether flexible rope ladder.
Fourthly. The Invention consists in applying guide ropes to the sides of the
flexible floats, so that the persons on such floats may by the use of these ropes
steady themselves while walking on the floats, and also be protected against the
danger of being washed off the floats.
When the raft is to be cut loose it is only necessary to cut or unfasten the
connecting cords or fastenings between the ladder and the raft. Suitable lines
should also be provided on the raft to enable boats of rescue to be fastened
thereto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th August 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE RAFTS." A communication from
abroad by Nicholas Hermann Borgfeldt, of the City, County, and State of New
York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to an improved life raft to be used on ships, and consists,
first, in combining a series of reticulated or other bags or receptacles with rigid
traverses and jointed rows of floats in such manner as to render the raft reversible.
With flexible bags applied between the traverses the raft is reversible, and will be
in position for saving life in whichever manner it may be thrown into the sea,
though it may also be used with continuous aprons extending from end to end of
the raft.
A second feature of improvement consists in the combination of the jointed floats,
which are united by traverses with a rope ladder, which will serve as a means of
escape from a wrecked or other injured vessel to the float. By the use of the said
ladder, which constitutes a permanent attachment to the raft while on board ship,
the whole length of the raft can be utilized for life saving purposes; yet, after the
passengers have left the ship, the rope ladder can be readily detached from the raft
to prevent the latter from sinking with the ship.
Thirdly. This Invention consists in providing the said rope ladder with a series
of traverses or stiff rungs, which will keep the ladder spread to the full width, and
render it easier for the passengers to use the ladder, as many persons find great
difficulty in using an altogether flexible rope ladder.
Fourthly. The Invention consists in applying guide ropes to the sides of the
flexible floats, so that the persons on such floats may by the use of these ropes steady
themselves while walking on the floats, and also be protected against the danger of
being washed off the floats.
In the Drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved life raft, showing
it applied to the side of a vessel; Figure 2 is a detail top view of part of a float,
and of the reticulated bags adjoining the same; Figure 3 is an end view of the
same; Figure 4 is a detail vertical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
the same.
igures.
A, A, represent rows of jointed floats made of cork or other material, and con-
nected by cross bars or traverses B, B. Between every pair of floats A, A, the
spaces between the respective traverses are filled with flexible bags or receptacles C, C,

page_text: which are preferably constructed of reticulated material, as indicated in the Drawing,
These bags are attached with their ends to the floats A, A, and to the traverses B, B,
so as to form flexible receptacles within the open spaces formed by said floats and
traverses. When the float is on the water, as in Figure 1, either side up, the bags
will constitute depressed receptacles for the persons on the raft. D, D, are ropes
fastened to the sides of the floats A, A, which can be used as guide lines for persons
standing or walking on the floats, and may also be grasped by the persons in
the bags C to prevent them being washed off the raft by a heavy sea; E is a
rope ladder fastened by cords a, a, or otherwise in an easily detachable manner to.
one end of the raft. This ladder, as long as the raft is kept on board, to be a
permanent attachment of the same.
When for use the ladder E is with its upper end secured to the gunwale, rail, or
side of the vessel; its lower end connects with the raft, as in Figure 1, so as to
enable the persons on board ship to easily reach the raft. This ladder should be
of nearly the same width as the raft, so that it may be used by a considerable
number of persons simultaneously; but in order to prevent its lateral collapse
while in use, and also to make it more convenient for persons unskilled in the use
of rope ladders, a series of stiff rungs or cross bars b, b, of wood, metal tubing,
or equivalent material are secured in the rope ladder, which stiff rungs will alternate
with the flexible rungs of the ladder, as indicated.
When the raft is to be cut loose it is only necessary to cut or unfasten the con-
necting cords or fastenings a, a, between the ladder and the raft. Suitable lines
should be provided on the raft to enable boats of rescue to be fastened thereto.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. A life raft composed of two or more sets of jointed floats, which are connected
by traverses and of a series of receptacles or bags C, C, in the spaces formed by said
floats and traverses, substantially as herein shown and described.
2nd. The combination of the life raft composed of the floats A, A, and traverses
B, B, with the rope ladder E, which is an attachment of said raft, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
3rd. The rope ladder E made with one or more stiff rungs or cross bars b, b, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.
4th. The flexible floats A, A, of the life raft combined with the guide ropes D, D,
at the sides, substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)