Improvements in and relating to Boat Raising and Lowering Gear or Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 1893-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Boat Raising and Lowering Gear
or Apparatus.
I HENRY BOWN, of 11 Oxford Street, Southampton, in the County of Hampshire,
Seaman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the gear or apparatus used in lowering ship's boats into,
and raising same from the water.
The main object of my said invention is to provide simple and efficient gear, or
apparatus for use in raising and lowering ship's boats.
According to my invention I use a pair of davits for raising and lowering a boat,
and for the said purpose I fit each davit with tackle-consisting of blocks and
fall-rove, and hung in manner as now ordinarily adopted, but the fall is of flexible
wire rope.
Upon the deck conveniently close to the bulwarks, on each side of ship, I provide
a line of shafting arranged to run in a fore and aft direction past the various davits,
the shafting may be in convenient lengths suitably coupled and will revolve in
bearings secured to the deck.
The shafting is turned by the ships winch, or derrick engine-driven by steam
or other power with which it (the shafting) is suitably geared, or a special engine
for turning the shafting may be provided.
According to one form or modification of my invention, I mount suitably shaped
drums upon the said line shafting one to each davit, and opposite same; each drum
being first mounted upon a tube or sleeve, which, with the drum,
carried upon
the line shafting, a feather or its equivalent is provided upon the said tube to
prevent the drum turning upon same, but the tube, and consequently the drum, can
revolve freely on the shafting, when not in gear with same.
To enable me to put the drums in and out of gear with the line shafting, I
secure part of a cluch box upon one end of the tube upon which a drum is mounted,
and the other part of clutch box is secured on the line shafting; by manipulating
the said clutch gear by means of a suitable lever the drums can be put in and out
of gear with the line shafting and thus caused, as required, to revolve with same,
or to remain stationary while the shafting is revolving.
The speed of the shafting and therefore of the drums may be regulated, if
desired, by the gear by which connected with the winch, derrick, or special engine,
provided for driving the shafting, or by other suitable means.
I may sometimes, instead of mounting the drums upon the line shafting in the
aforesaid manner, arrange for them to be mounted above the latter upon a frame,
or upon standards provided for the purpose, each drum being carried upon a
separate shaft, or spindle working in bearings provided upon the said frame or
standards, the drum spindle will then be suitably geared with the line shafting by
means of spur, or other wheels, or by crank, or disc, and rod connections, the drum
spindles and consequently the drums being put in and out of gear with the line
shafting as required by suitable clutch and lever, or other mechanism.
Upon the upper part, and on one side of each davit I fit a sheave or pulley, and
underneath the pulley, I provide, upon the davit, a compressor convenient for
manipulation; the hauling part of a davit tackle fall is led over the said sheave and
through the said compressor and the end of fall is then attached to a drum, namely
to the one nearest to a given davit, the tackle fall of each davit is thus connected
to its respective drum.
The drums are of a size that will admit of all the slack of a fall being wound
upon a drum when a boat is hoisted at its highest in the davits.

page_text: It is obvious that I can also provide independent gear, or mechanism for turning
the drum by manual power, when desired, more especially I can perhaps do so
conveniently, when they (the drums) are not carried upon the line shafting.
I may sometimes arrange for the drums to slide backwards and forwards length-
ways upon their spindles, to a limited extent, or upon the tubes upon which they
are mounted when the drums are carried upon the line shafting -as hereinbefore
described so that a fall, while being wound upon its drum, will have a straighter
lead, and consequently be wound more evenly upon the drum, than if the latter
was fixed.
Arrangements will be made for preventing a drum turning upon its shaft, or
spindle, or upon the aforesaid sleeve or tube.
When it is desired to raise a boat from the water the tackles of a pair of davits
are connected to the boat, one at each end of same, the line shafting is then put in
motion and the drums opposite the two davits in gear with the shafting, the falls
being wound upon the drums and the boat thus raised to the required height, more
than one boat may be raised at the same time if desired.
When a boat is hoisted into position in the davits the falls may be secured by
the compressor provided on the davits, the rope on the drums, or as much of same
as required, may then be overhauled and the boat swung in.
By manipulating the aforesaid compressors a boat can be easily and steadily
lowered and its downward progress almost instantly stopped at will, the falls being
meanwhile unwound from the drums.
The line shafting and its bearings may be suitably cased over.
Various modifications may be made in the details of the apparatus without
departing from the distinctive character of the invention.
The improvements are more particularly adapted for use upon large steam and
sailing ships but I believe some of the novel features of the invention can be used
to advantage wherever it is required to raise and lower boats.
Dated this 15th day of September 1892.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Boat Raising and Lowering Gear
or Apparatus.
I HENRY BOWN, of 11, Oxford Street, Southampton, in the County of Hampshire,
Seaman, 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 relates to the gear or apparatus used in lowering ship's boats into,
and raising same from the water.
The main object of my said invention is to provide simple and efficient gear, or
apparatus for use in raising and lowering ship's boats.
According to my invention I use a pair of davits of similar form for raising and
lowering a boat and I fit each davit with tackle-consisting of blocks and fall-
rove, and hang in manner as now ordinarily adopted, but the fall is of flexible
wire rope.
In the accompanying drawing:-
Fig. 1, is a fore and aft elevation of a boat hung in davits constructed and fitted
according to my invention the boat being shewn in position ready for lowering into
the water.
Fig. 2, is a part plan on top of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a vertical end view partly in section taken on the line a, b, and looking
famwand

page_text: Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, are enlarged views of details hereinafter described.
Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12 are enlarged views of details shewing modifications in my
invention hereinafter described.
A. A are a pair of boat's davits fitted upon a ship in manner as now ordinarily
adopted, B, is a line of shafting mounted in suitable bearings on standards or
frames C, C, secured to the ships deck D, the shafting being arranged to run in a
fore and aft direction past the various davits, the former may be in convenient
lengths suitably coupled. The said line shafting is turned by the ships winch or
derrick engine-driven by steam or other motive power-with which it is suitably
geared, or a special engine for turning the shafting may be provided, the shafting
will be fitted on both sides of the ship.
According to one form or modification of my invention I fit the drums E, E, on
a tube or sleeve c, which with the drum is carried upon the line shafting.
For the purpose of preventing the drum from turning upon the sleeve a feather
may be provided upon the latter with a corresponding slot in the drum ends, or the
outside cross sectional form of sleeve may be rectangular-as shewn at d, Fig. 7.
To allow of the drums E. E being put in and out of gear with the line shafting,
I secure a part e, of a clutch box upon one end of the sleeve c, and the other
part e, of clutch box is so fitted on the line shafting that it will turn with, and yet
can be moved lengthways of same to a limited extent. Upon manipulating the
lever, the part e, of clutch box is put in or out of union with the part e, as
desired, and the sleeve c, and consequently the drum E, is thus caused to revolve with,
or remain stationary-as the case may be-upon the line shafting when the latter
is revolving.
Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, which show in elevation and end view respectively
a modification of my invention, I may sometimes instead of mounting the drums
upon the line shafting B, in the aforesaid manner, arrange for them to be mounted
above the latter upon a separate spindle g, working in bearings h, h, provided on the
frames C, C, the drum spindle g, will then be geared with the line shafting B, by
means of crank or disc and rod connections or by tooth wheel or other suitable
mechanism, the drum spindle g, and consequently the drum E', being put in and
out of gear with the line shafting, as required, by manipulating clutch box or other
suitable mechanism fitted for the purpose.
The disc i, may be made as shewn so as to form one part of the clutch box, or if
preferred the latter may be separate from the disc. The disc is suitably secured
upon the spindle g, but is not keyed to same thus when the clutch box is in the
disengaged position and the line shafting revolving no motion is imparted to the
spindle and drum. To keep the two parts of clutch in the engaged or disengaged
position as the case may be, I provide a pivotted hook device, the latter is shewn
in position at Figs. 1, 2, 7, 9, and 11, adapted for keeping the parts of clutch box
disengaged, but when the latter are engaged the hook will lie in the groove K.
On one side of each davit I fit a sheave or pulley F, and underneath the pulley,
upon each davit, a compressor G, the hauling part H, of a davit tackle fall is led over
the said sheave and through the compressor, and the end of fall is then attached to
a drum namely, to the one nearest to a given davit, the tackle fall of each davit
is thus connected to its respective drum, the drums are of a size that will admit of
all the slack of a fall being wound upon the former-in one, two or more coils as
found convenient-when a boat is hoisted at its highest in the davits.
When it is desired to raise a boat, the lower block », of the tackle falls of a pair
of davits is connected-one at each end,-to the boat, the drums are then put in
gear with the line shafting, and the latter in motion.
It is evident one, two, or more pairs of drums may be put in gear with the line
shafting simultaneously, thus as many boats may be raised at the same time as
desired, provided the line shafting is in motion.
I prefer to arrange for the drums to slide backwards and forwards-lengthways-
upon the tube c, or spindle g, on which mounted, so that as a fall is wound, or
unwound from off a drum the latter is free to move into position in line with the

page_text: compressor G, thus avoiding a cross pull, and providing for the even winding of
the rope upon the drum, the latter although free to slide backwards and forwards
upon the tube c, or spindle g, cannot revolve upon same by reason of the feather
on the tube, and spindle, or the outside rectangular form of the latter, hereinbefore
referred to.
I also fit pawl and ratchet gear S, S, to prevent the tube c, or spindle g, and
consequently the drum, turning back when not in gear with the line shafting B,
but when lowering a boat the pawl will be thrown out of gear and the falls paid
out through, and controlled by the compressors G, G, the drums being then out of
gear with the line shafting and free to revolve backwards, and the falls or ropes H,
are unwound from off the drums to the desired extent.
At Figs. 4, 5, and 6, I have shewn the compressor G to enlarged scale, in the
form I prefer to adopt, Fig. 4, being an outside elevation of part of the davit, with
the compressor in position upon same, Fig. 5, an elevation taken at right angles to
Fig. 4, and Fig. 6, a plan partly in section taken on line m, m; the lever n, pivots
on a pin n', which works in bearings in the lugs p, p, the pin is square in cross
section where it passes through the lever thus when the latter is moved it rotates
the pin, which projects beyond the lug p, and upon the projecting part a ratchet
wheel t, is secured, when the lever is depressed the pawl q, engages with the teeth
of the ratched wheel thereby holding the lever in any position to which it is pulled,
the fall H, is thus to a greater, or less extent held tightly in the recess q', by the
short arm of lever and upon throwing the pawl 4, out of gear with the ratchet
wheel, the lever may be reversed and the pressure upon the fall reduced to the
desired extent or altogether instantly removed.
When a boat is hoisted in the davits and the falls secured in the compressors,
the rope on the drums-or as much as required-may be unwound from off same
and the davits, with the attached boat, can then be turned into any desired
position.
When lowering a boat from the davits its downward progress may be controlled,
or almost instantly stopped, by manipulating the compressors in manner above
specified.
I do not however limit myself to the use of the particular form of compressor G,
but I may use other compressors or devices to secure the object in view, namely
that of controlling and securing the hauling part of the falls H, as, and for the
purpose specified.
I may sometimes provide for the turning of the drums by manual power, fitting
such additional gear as is shewn at r, r, (see Figs. 9, and 10,) for the purpose,
these figs., shewn in elevation, and end view respectively, a modification of Figs. 7,
and 8, similar in form and arrangement to same, but with said hand gear added,
thus should there be no steam or other motive power available for driving the
engine that turns the line shafting B, the boats may be raised and lowered by
manual power.
Suitable arrangements will be made for disconnecting the hand gear from that
driven by the engine.
Many modifications may be made in the details of the apparatus without departing
from the nature of the invention.
Importance is attached to the method of fitting the drums E upon the tube or
sleeve c, and then mounting the latter upon the line shafting as, and for the
purpose specified.
The improvements are more particularly adapted to steam vessels, or large
sailing vessels provided with steam power.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
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
clain is:-
The improved boat raising and lowering apparatus, comprising the flexible wire

page_text: rope falls, the drums E, fitted on the sleeve c, and carried upon the line shafting B,
also the compressor G, and other devices, all constructed and combined sub-
stantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and operating
as, and for the purpose above specified.
Dated this 21st day of January 1893.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.