IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH SHIPS'-BOATS, LIFE RAFTS, OR OTHER LIFE SAVING APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING OIL ONTO THE SURFACE OF THE SEA
Year: 1884

page_text: I JAMES CLAYTON of Seacombe in the county of Chester do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH
SHIPS'-BOATS, LIFE RAFTS, OR OTHER LIFE SAVING APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING
OIL ONTO THE SURFACE OF THE SEA" to be as follows:-
Recent experiments have shewn the effect of distributing oil over the surface
of the sea when in a troubled state and that the fury of the waves is lessened
thereby. Up to the present I am not aware that any very practical means have
been adopted for the purpose of carrying this out under all circumstances and in
all positions. Pipes to convey the oil from shore to the mouth of a harbour have
been used and oil has been discharged from the deck of a ship.
The object of my improvements is to bring the use of oil within a narrower
compass and so that it can be of service in saving life either in conveying persons
from wrecked or disabled ships or in case of other accident whereby persons are
carried over board into an angry sea.
The invention consists in attaching to life boats, ships'-boats, life-rafts, metallic
life buoys or other life saving apparatus a tank preferably metallic which is filled
with suitable oil. This tank is fitted with outlet and inlet pipes and valves or
taps whereby such are controlled. In the case of ships boats or life boats the
tank is preferably placed under the stern seat with a pipe leading out of the stern
of the boat. The person in command of the boat and in charge of the helm can
by means of a tap or valve placed within reach discharge the oil as he may think
necessary or desirable. I prefer to place the tank sufficiently high that it will
discharge itself without extraneous air or pressure though if found more convenient
a pump of any convenient construction may be used and the oil either pumped out
or forced out by pumping in air. In a raft the tank may be placed in any position
but I consider it more convenient to place it at that part which will form the stern.
In life buoys I should prefer to place the oil tank at one end.
Dan 711001
W P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I JAMES CLAYTON of Seacombe in the County of Chester do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH
SHIP'S BOATS, LIFE-RAFTS, OR OTHER LIFE SAVING APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING
OIL ONTO THE SURFACE OF THE SEA" and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
Recent experiments have shewn the effect of distributing oil over the surface
of the sea, when in a troubled state, and that the fury of the waves is lessened
thereby. Up to the present I am not aware that any very practical means have
-been-adopted for the purpose of carrying this out under all circumstances, and in
all positions. Pipes to convey the oil from shore to the mouth of a harbour have
been used, and oil has been discharged from the deck of a ship.
The object of my improvements is to bring the use of oil within a narrower
compass and so that it can be of service in saving life either when conveying
persons from wrecked or disabled ships, or in case of other accident, whereby
persons are carried over board into an angry sea.
The invention consists in attaching to life boats, ship's boats, life rafts, metallic
life buoys, or other like saving apparatus, a tank, preferably metallic, which is
filled with suitable oil.
It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings; in which:
Figure 1 is plan of stern of a boat shewing the tank in position, and
Figure 2 cross section of tank on line x, y. A is the tank which is preferably
placed as shewn in the stern of the boat, though, if found more convenient, might
occupy any other suitable position. The tank A is placed under the seat C and D
so as not to take up valuable room in the boat, extending for some distance at each
side towards the bow. It is fitted with an outlet pipe B projecting from the
bottom and passing out through the stern of the boat. The oil passes out through
the valve E into the pipe B. A raised grating or perforated chamber F surrounds
the valve seating so that the flow of oil may be more easily regulated, and not
until the valve E has been raised clear of F does the full flow of oil pass. The
valve is attached to a spindle G provided with a screw thread g at its upper end,
which passes through a threaded bush g¹, and by turning the handle H the valve E
is raised or lowered. I is an india rubber or leather washer carried by, and raised
and lowered with the spindle G. It covers the vent holes i when the valve is
closed, and prevents the oil splashing out. J is opening for filling the tank with
oil, Instead of the flat valve shewn, a tapered or other convenient or ordinary
construction of valve may be employed.
The oil tank may be of any suitable shape or construction, varying according
to the situation in which it is to be employed, though for ship's boats, I prefer the
shape shown.
The person in command of the boat and in charge of the helm, can by means
of the handle H placed within reach, discharge the oil as he may think necessary
or desirable. I prefer to place the tank A sufficiently high that it will dischargo
itself without other than atmospheric pressure. Or the tank may be placed in the
bottom of the boat or raft with an opening at the bottom and another about on a
level with the water line, both controlled by valves. When the valves are opened
water will flow in at the bottom, displacing the oil and cause it to flow out at the
top, then when the oil is all used the valves may be closed and the tank act as
a ballast tank, in fact it would act as such, when filled with either oil or water.

page_text: In a raft the tank may be placed in any position, but I consider it more convenient
to place it at that part which will form the stern. In life buoys I should prefer
to place the oil tank at one end.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The combination with ship's boat, life raft, or other life saving apparatus, of an
oil containing tank having an outlet valve, within control of the person in charge,
through which the oil can be discharged onto the surface of the water by means of
a pipe or opening, substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 13th day of November 1884.
WP. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
and 323, High Holborn, London,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.