IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE AND MEANS OF CARRYING, SECURING, PUTTING OUT, AND RELEASING SHIPS' BOATS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Little Dryden, of Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan,
Master Mariner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE AND
MEANS OF CARRYING, SECURING, PUTTING OUT, AND RELEASING SHIPS'
BOATS."
Sealed the 10th July 1877, and dated the 13th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Little Dryden at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th January 1877.
JOHN LITTLE DRYDEN, of Swansea in the County of Glamorgan, Master Mariner
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE AND MEANS OF CARRYING, SECURING, PUTTING OUT,
AND RELEASING SHIPS' BOATS."
The object of my Invention is that thereby a boat may be ready at any moment
at sea or in harbour for lowering, and can be by one movement released from all the
carrying, securing, and retaining gear, and lowered over the side by one person; and
in the means of effecting this my Invention consists,-
I. I place at any convenient spot at or near to the side of the ship a frame hinged
to the deck. I usually construct this frame of two vertical and two horizontal rods
or bars. To the upper are attached eyes or any convenient means of carrying the
boat which is so suspended as to hang fore and aft in the hinged frame; this frame
is hinged in such manner that it may be placed at any angle inboard or outboard to
any extent convenient. I prefer, however, to retain it in a vertical position when
not in use for lowering.
II. The boat suspended from the blocks or frame is. carried upon chocks. Rods
or bars with projections or pins forged or cast thereon or attached thereto are
provided, one on each side of the boat on the deck or skids. When the boat is
carried or supported by the chocks these rods are in such a position that the pro-
jections thereon lie flat upon the deck or skids, and the gripes securing the boat are
upon the said projections. A key is so placed as to retain these bars securely in
position. These longitudinal bars are connected by means of a cross bar or bars
which extend inboard. The inner longitudinal bars has a lever or handle by a
pull upon which the chocks are tumbled, the gripes let go and the boat instan-
taneously released and hanging only by the chains on the frame herein-before
mentioned, until which time the boat is most securely and firmly held in position. .
[Price 6d.]

page_text: III. At a convenient distance from the boat I place an upright or standard of
metal or wood, and behind it or otherwise a winch. From the frame carrying the
boat to the upright or standard and round the winch is led a chain or rope. By
the action of the winch the chain is let out or pulled back as required.
IV. In the boat I place a horizontal rod or bar running from stem to stern, and
so recessed at each end as to form a half circle. The rod or bar is carried in suitable
bearings, and to it is secured a lever by which the rod or bar may be turned. The
boat is suspended by means of chains or ropes attached on the one hand to the rod
or bar, and on the other to blocks or otherwise on the frame herein-before mentioned.
The semicircular ends of the rod or bar support the boat by means of two pins or
bolts placed at suitable places within the boat; and when it is desired to release
the boat it is done instantaneously by turning the lever on the rod or bar when the
position of the semicircular recesses will be reversed, and the pins and with them
the boat instantaneously released.
V. The tumbling of the chocks, the lowering of the boat, and the detaching of
the boat can be effected in an instant and by one hand.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Little Dryden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th July
1877.
JOHN LITTLE DRYDEN, of Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan, Master Mariner.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE AND MEANS OF CARRYING; SECURING, PUTTING OUT,
AND RELEASING SHIPS' BOATS."
The object of my Invention is that thereby a boat may be ready at any moment
at sea or in harbour for lowering, and can be by one movement released from all the
carrying, securing, and retaining gear, and lowered over the side by one person; and
in the means of effecting this my Invention consists,―
In order that my Invention may be distinctly described and ascertained this
Specification is accompanied by a Sheet of Drawings having figures and letters of
reference marked thereupon, the like letter being used to denote a similar or corre-
sponding part in each Figure.
I place at any convenient spot at or near to the side of the ship a frame
hinged A, A, to the deck. I usually construct this frame of two vertical rods or
bars a, a, and two horizontal rods or bars a¹, a¹. To the upper horizontal bar are
attached eyes or any convenient means of carrying the boat which is so suspended
as to hang fore and aft in the hinged frame, as shown I, Figure I. This frame is
hinged in such manner that it may be placed at any angle inboard or outboard, and
may be brought inboard to any extent convenient. I prefer, however, to retain it
in a vertical position when not in use for lowering.
The boat suspended from the blocks is carried upon chocks C, C. Rods or bars (d)
with projections or pins (e) forged or cast thereon or attached thereto are provided
one on each side of the boat on the deck or skids. When the boat is carried or
supported by the chocks c, c, these rods are in such a position that the projections
thereon lay flat upon the deck or skids, and the gripes securing the boat are upon
the said projections. A key (F) is so placed as to retain these bars (d) securely in
position. These longitudinal bars (d) are connected together by means of a cross
bar or bars (d) which extend inboard. The inner longitudinal bar has a lever or
handle (i) by a pull upon which the chocks are tumbled, the gripes are let go and
the boat instantaneously released, and .hanging only by the chains on the frame
herein-before mentioned, until which time the boat is most securely and firmly held
in position.
At a convenient distance from the boat I place an upright or standard (B) of
metal or wood, and behind it or otherwise a winch. From the frame (A) carrying

page_text: the boat to the upright or standard (B), and round the winch is led a chain or
rope. By the action of the winch the frame is let out or pulled back as required.
In the boat I place a horizontal rod or bar (C) running from stem to stern, and so
recessed at each end as to form a half circle. The rod or bar (C) is carried in
suitable bearings, and to it is secured a lever (i) by which the rod or bar (C) may be
turned. The boat is suspended by means of chains or ropes attached on the one hand
to the rod or bar, and on the other to blocks or otherwise on the frame herein-before
mentioned. The semicircular ends of the rod (or bar) support the boat by means of
two pins (k) or bolts placed at suitable places within the boat; and when it is
desired to release the boat it is done instantaneously by turning the lever (i) on the
rod or bar (C) when the position of the semicircular recesses will be reversed, and
the pins and with them the boat instantaneously released.
The tumbling of the chocks, the lowering of the boat, and the detaching of the
boat can be effected in an instant and by one hand.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which the same is effected, I wish it to be understood that what I claim
as my Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, the mechanical arrange-
ments for carrying, securing, putting out, and releasing the boat, both by the
tumbling chocks, the lowering hinged frame, and the longitudinal bar with pins and
levers, all as described in this Specification and in the accompanying Drawings
illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Little Dryden, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of July, in the year of our 'Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.