IMPROVEMENTS IN RAFTS OR STRUCTURES APPLICABLE FOR THE ORDINARY PURPOSES OF MARINE AND INLAND NAVIGATION, AS ALSO FOR SAVING LIFE in Cases OF SHIPWRECK OR OTHERWISE
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Clark at the Office of
the Commissioners of. Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th July
1862. A communication from abroad by Messieurs Louis François
Rojare and Louis Charles Edouard Rojare, Father and Son, both of
29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAFTS OR STRUCTURES APPLICABLE FOR THE ORDINARY
PURPOSES OF MARINE AND INLAND NAVIGATION, AS ALSO FOR SAVING LIFE in Cases
OF SHIPWRECK OR OTHERWISE," to be as follows:-
Afflicted by the numerous disasters which so frequently take place on the
sea-board, and knowing the inadequacy of all existing apparatus for saving
life, which prevents all those unable to swim from taking to the water in order
to save life, I have designed an unsinkable apparatus which permits of persons
going out from the shore in all weathers. This improved apparatus for saving
life is formed of four barrels, tuns, or hollow cylinders carrying a light bridge-
like structure herein-after described. I also apply this principle for the
purposes of navigation, thus I propose to use hollow barrels or closed
cylinders, each having a longitudinal axis, which allows of their turning so as
to obey the least tractive force. Instead of having shafts running throughout
their length they may have pivots on each end turning in a framework
forming the raft. The number and dimensions of these casks or cylinders
may be increased according to the power to be obtained; the cylinders are
weighted sufficiently to immerse them about one-third of their diameter, and -
so leave their shaft pivots out of the water. These cylinders support a raft
of a size in relation to their number and dimensions, and on this raft, which

page_text: is made of suitable form according to the purpose for which it is intended, is
placed either a house, a vessel, or magazine. The raft is supported by the
shafts running through the cylinders, which are thus free, and represent large
solid wheels. The axes of the cylinders may also be carried by a frame on
which the raft is established so as to allow of freer motion to the cylinders,
which may be multiplied according to the power to be obtained; if they
reach a certain size they are fitted with several longitudinal water-tight com--
partments, so that if one of the cylinders should be damaged it would not
endanger the whole of the raft; thus a cylinder of about thirteen feet in
diameter may be divided into four parts, so that if an accident occurs it can
only affect that one part without preventing the cylinder from working, while
on the other hand such damage could be easily repaired. By connecting together
twenty cylinders,each of about thirteen feet in diameter and about thirty-three
feet in length, they would support a raft requiring a weight of 647 tons to
immerse the cylinders about 4 feet, and a weight of 840 tons to immerse them
a little less than 5 feet, and 1,500 tons to sink them about 5 feet 6 inches.
If required to be of great strength, several rafts are connected together, the
first and last of which each carry a steam engine. The rafts are composed
of 8 cylinders, in the form of a square, and furnished with paddles of greater
or less thickness so as to form large paddle wheels. The rafts may be of any
number, being supported by movable cylinders working as wheels or rollers,
and offoring less resistance to traction than the lightest vessel. When several
rafts are navigated together they are united by a bridge of the same width as
the raft, disconnected at the centre; this establishes the communication
between each raft. The bridge is placed about midway of the depth of the
rafts, and also of sufficient length to prevent the waves, however great they
may be, causing any shocks between the cylinders. The raft may be driven
at about the same speed as that of a waggon or carriage. The application of
steam for imparting rotary motion to the cylinders provides for the greatest
speed being attained, which should be superior to that of the fastest walker.
This improved system of navigation will be found to be of the greatest
service, since as the rafts are unsinkable there is no longer any danger of
shipwreck. These improved rafts require no ballast, and as they draw but
little water may be navigated wherever required; they may be especially used
for navigating rivers, being made either narrow or wide, as the case may
be the adoption of this improved system will result in modifications and
improvements in navigation which it is impossible to foresee. The rafts are
made of much greater width than that of ordinary vessels; the rafts having
no kcels it allows of the ordinary arrangenient of n:asts being modified; thus,

page_text: instead of the masts one behind the other I may have four, one at each corner
of the raft, or there may be six, three on each side, the surface presented to the
wind will thus be tripled, at the same time the masts may be much lighter and
shorter than in ordinary. These rafts may be readily improvised, if necessary,
thus the loss of a boat may be repaired by taking empty casks, which may
be furnished with pivots at the ends without damage, in this manner an
unsinkable apparatus is obtained, which may be used for crossing bars and
effecting landings under all conditions.
This Invention carried out to its fullest extent will thus inaugurate an
entirely new system of navigation. The rafts are of easy and cheap con-
struction, are unsinkable, and capable of moving at a high speed; they may be
made extremely light, uniting the first conditions of speed, and will thus be
adapted for carrying dispatches, while, as they draw but little water, they may
communicate with many places at present inaccessible to navigation and
commerce. A sail raft is composed of eight cylinders, the same as the one
before described, and is furnished with mechanism similar to that of the
apparatus for-saving life, herein-after described, which may be used either
permanently or in calm weather only. This apparatus possesses the advantage
of moving either forwards or sideways, is not liable to run ashore, 'and affords
ample security to those navigating it.
oars;
.
The improved apparatus for saving life from shipwreck is composed of four
casks, barrels, or cylinders carrying a light bridge; the cylinders are about three
feet in diameter and seven feet in length, connected together by two cross pieces
which carry the bridge, on which are two rails or elevations for carrying the
the raft is steered by the oars without requiring a rudder; the cylinders
are furnished with shafts, and are propelled by means of gearing set in motion
by a crank in connection with another series of wheels of similar dimensions.
The gearing may be of wood or iron of a thickness of 6 or 8 inches; they aro
driven by a chain or endless cords furnished at intervals with blocks of wood
in a similar manner to the climbing poles of a gymnasium; the use of cords
for a small apparatus would be preferable to sailors, as they are easily regu-
lated, and combine lightness and little liability to breakage. The Invention
thus consists in the use of a combination of hollow cylinders, whatever may
be their form, and whether wholly or partially immersed in the water, forming
the improved system of navigation by means of rafts as herein described.