Improved Engaging and Disengaging Apparatus for Ships' Boats.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan,, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Engaging and Disengaging Apparatus for Ships' Boats.
I DENNIS HILL WILLEY, of Tynemouth Villa, Lodge Road, Southampton, in
the County of Hampshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
My invention relates to boats, and the lowering into and raising same from the
water, and comprises various improvements, and consists in the construction and
combination of parts of a complete apparatus for the purpose, hereinafter
described.
By means of my invention it is possible and convenient to instantly disengage a
boat from the davit tackles at both ends simultaneously, either before or after the
boat reaches the water, and to engage the boat to the tackles quickly, and easily,
either while the ship is at rest, or moving through the water.
The complete apparatus consists of
First Two fittings or devices of similar construction one being secured to the
boat at the bow, and the other at the stern.
Second A piece of rod iron, chain, or its equivalent, connected to each of these
fittings.
Third A slip hook fitting, whereby the rods are connected, and disconnected, as
required.
A stretching screw to tighten the connections up may also be provided if found
necessary.
It is from the two fittings at the bow, and stern, that the boat is hung by means
of the boat's davit tackles being connected thereto.
I will further describe these fittings presuming for the purpose of the description
that they are made of wrought iron, but it is noted they can be made of cast, or
malleable cast iron, or other approved metal, or alloy.
First, to construct a fitting I take and provide two side plates, or pieces, of a
particular shape, and connect them in such a manner as to leave a space or recess
between them, in this recess I provide and fit a lever bar pivoting upon a pin passing
through it, and the side plates of the fitting, the pin forms the fulcrum of the lever.
I shall hereinafter refer to that part of the lever, before and abaft the fulcrum
in the bow, and stern fittings respectively, as the "lever end," and the other part
or end of the lever as the "lever handle," the lever can swing in a fore and aft
direction between the side plates to a limited extent only.
Further, between the side pieces of each fitting I provide and fit a trigger
arrangement pivoted probably at the fore end of the bow fitting, and at the aft end
of the stern fitting, respectively, and which can also swing in a fore and aft direction
between the side plates to a limited extent, and so balanced that it always remains
in the engaged position except when temporarily depressed to admit of the engaging
operation being effected, which is hereinafter more fully described.
On the bottom of the running blocks of each davit tackle a ring, or shackle, is
provided, and it is these rings that are connected to the lever ends in manner
hereinafter described, thereby completing the connection between the boat and the
boat's davits.
I will now further explain the working of the whole apparatus.
Presuming it is desired to engage the boat to the davit tackles the two lever
handles are first drawn towards the centre of the boat which brings the lever ends
in a more or less horizontal position and in direct contact with the pivoted trigger
fittings, the rods, or their equivalent, are then connected in a fore and aft direction
by the slip arrangement, and the stretching screw if provided, tightens all up; the

page_text: block rings are
now passed under the lever ends, the hinged triggers being
temporarily depressed during the operation but the latter return instantly and
automatically to the engaged position after the rings are connected to the lever
ends, thus locking or "mousing" the block rings, and preventing the possibility of
their becoming disengaged from the lever ends until the lever handles are released
by slipping the chains, by which latter operation the boat is disengaged
simultaneously from the bow and stern fittings, as the lever handles being released
allow the lever ends to move upwards, thereby releasing the block rings and
consequently the boat.
Dated this 16th day of January 1891.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
20, Laura Place, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Engaging and Disengaging Apparatus for Ships' Boats.
I DENNIS HILL WILLEY, of Tynemouth Villa, Lodge Road, Southampton in
the County of Hampshire, Engineer, 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 ship's boats, and my object is to provide simple and
effective gear for use in lowering into and raising boats from the water, and that
will not detach unless it is so desired.
My improved gear is so constructed that by means of same it is possible and con-
venient to engage boats to the davit tackles quickly and easily either while the
ship is at rest or moving through the water-and to instantly disengage same
simultaneously at both ends, either before or after they reach the water.
The complete apparatus consists of two similarly shaped fittings one being secured
at the bow, and the other at the stern end of the boat, in opposite directions, a rod,
chain or its equivalent, shackled to each fitting, and a slip fitting to connect and
disconnect same
In the accompanying drawings which serve to illustrate one form or modification
of my invention.
Fig. 1, is a fore and aft view in sectional elevation at the centre of a boat
shewing my complete apparatus as fitted; the bow and stern fittings A. A', also
being shewn in sectional elevation.
Figs. 2, and 3, are enlarged fore and aft views in sectional elevation on line E.
(see Figs. 6, and 7,) of the fittings A. A', both being similar in construction, but
placed in opposite directions in the boat as shewn at Fig. 1.
Figs. 4, and 5, are enlarged fore and aft views in elevation of the fittings A, A'.
Fig. 6, is a plan on top of Fig. 4, and
Fig. 7, a plan on top of Fig. 2.
The same letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several figures.
The complete apparatus is shewn at Fig. 1, in position ready for instant engage-
ment of the rings or shackles g, g',-attached to the running blocks b, b¹ of the
davit tackles to the fittings A, A.
Fig. 2, illustrates the method of engaging the block rings to the bow and stern
fittings, and
Fig. 4, the position of the different parts, after the engagement has been made.
Figs. 3, and 5, shew respectively in sectional elevation, and elevation the
fittings A. A', immediately after the rings g. 9',-and consequently the boat-have
been released.
When it is desired to engage the boat to the davit tackles the lever handles h. h,
are first drawn towards the centre of the boat to the extent of their travel, which
is limited by the stop J.

page_text: This operation brings the lever ends h', ', in contact with the hinged triggers or
devices D, (see Fig. 1,) the travel of which is also limited.
When the block rings are being engaged the triggers are depressed as shewn at
Fig. 2, but being suitably weighted, or balanced, by a spring, they return again
automatically-after the block rings are passed under the lever ends-into contact
with the levers-already secured, thus locking or mousing the block rings, and
thereby preventing same from becoming accidentally unhooked from the fittings.
The connection between the boat and davit tackles is thus completed
(see Fig. 4).
To instantly disengage the boat from the davit tackles it is only necessary to
disconnect the rods or chains d, d', by means of the slip fitting e, the levers C, are
thus released and obviously the lever ends ', h', which swing upwards into the
disengaged position, (see Figs. 3, and 5,) thereby releasing the block rings 9, 9', and
consequently the boat.
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
claim is :-
1st. The improved engaging and disengaging apparatus for ship's boats, or similar
thereto, as hereinbefore substantially described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2nd. In a boat engaging and disengaging apparatus the combination with the
pivoted levers C, of the pivoted triggers or devices D, both designed to swing.to a
limited extent in the framework of the fittings A. A', or in other suitably formed
framework, which fittings are secured to the boat at the bow and stern in opposite
directions and fitted with connecting chains, or their equivalent, and a slip fitting,
the complete apparatus being adapted for the rapid engagement and safe mousing
of the davit tackle rings or shackles g, g', or other suitable attachment, and for the
instant disengagement of same simultaneously from both ends of the boat, either
before or after the latter reaches the water, as hereinbefore substantially described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In a boat engaging and disengaging apparatus, the particular arrangement
of same whereby the act of connecting together the lever handles of the bow and
stern fittings A, A',-by means of the rods or chains d, d', and slip fitting e,-places
the complete apparatus in position ready for the engagement of the davit tackles g, g',
and also for the immediate disengagement of same, after the engagement has been
made, as hereinbefore substantially described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 13th day of April 1891.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.