IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND ATTACHMENT OF THE DECKS OF SHIPS AND OTHER NAVIGABLE VESSELS, AND THEIR HOUSES, FOR LIFE SAVING PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Morgan at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1878.
JAMES MORGAN, of 15, Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND ATTACHMENT OF
THE DECKS OF SHIPS AND OTHER NAVIGABLE VESSELS, AND THEIR HOUSES, FOR
LIFE SAVING PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to a novel method of constructing and attaching the decks
of ships and other navigable vessels, and their houses, such as forecastle decks,
hurricane decks, poop decks, the decks or roofs of deck houses, saloons, and other
superstructures, so that in the case of accident by collision, stranding, or other
cause such decks or roofs are readily available for use as rafts for life saving
purposes.
In carrying out my Invention I construct the particular deck, say the forecastle,
hurricane, or poop deck, or deck-house deck, or roof detached from the main
structure, having independent beams and transverse binders or supports, and over-
lapping and fitting the main structure in manner similar to the lid of a box, so
that in case of a vessel foundering the deck will float off, forming a raft of large
capacity, having ample strength and buoyancy to support passengers and crew.
It is not necessary that the whole deck should be so 'constructed, as a like object
can be obtained by thus constructing detached portions of the deck. I attach the
deck to the sides of the vessel or superstructure by a series of levers, toggles,
tumbler hooks, cams, or their equivalent provided with suitable tightening appli-
ances on the wedge or screw principle. Such appliances are controlled and operated
by a main bar worked by a lever or hand wheel, or by a float, so that in case of
accident upon the moving of such lever or wheel, or the rising of the float, the
securing appliances will become released, and the deck free to float away from the
vessel in case of need.
In the case of ferry boats and vessels navigating rivers only the detacheable decks
can be applied generally, but in the case of sea going vessels I would limit the
application of my Invention to the super decks only, so as not to detrimentally

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affect the seaworthiness of the vessel, which might be caused by vessels so con-
structed having to encounter heavy seas.
In all cases I, as far as possible, provide a watertight joint by using india rubber
or its equivalent placed between the deck and the structure it covers.
I would state that I am aware that additional or double decks being in fact
independent, rafts or vessels have been used prior to my Invention, but such
appliances are unwieldy and cumbersome, and are in themselves a source of
danger.
To provide additional buoyancy to decks constructed according to my Invention
I, if necessary, add watertight compartments, or cork or other buoyant material to
the sides or to the underpart of the deck. The stanchions, rails, seats, skylights,
and other furniture or fittings of the deck may or may not be fixtures and attached
to the deck, but I prefer that such fittings should be fixtures. The riggings, stays,
and other gear may be made detacheable from the deck by the same appliances
that detach the deck from the vessel; or the rigging and stays and gear may be
attached only to the main body of the vessel.