Apparatus for Saving Life and Property at Sea, Consisting of a Sea Anchor Rudder and Life Raft Combined.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Saving Life and Property at Sea, Consisting of a Sea
Anchor Rudder and Life Raft Combined.
I YSIDORO ALVAREZ of 80 Selbourne Street Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Commission Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Sea anchor to hold the ships head to wind in stormy weather rudder adaptable
for use in steering vessels when their ordinary steering gear has become unservice-
able, and life raft for the saving of life of persons at sea.
It consists essentially of a floating construction of planks preferably of pine or
other bouyant wood of rectangular shape and of a size proportionate to the size
of the vessel for which it is designed.
The construction is strengthened with ribs and cross pieces and provided with
high bolts with rollers as hereinafter described.
To the lower edge of the said wooden construction an iron frame hinges of approxi-
mately the same length as the wooden construction at the side which adjoins the same
and tapering somewhat in front. The width is about one third of that of the wooden
construction and when the apparatus is in the water the weight of the iron frame
tends to maintain the apparatus in a vertical position. In the iron frame are fixed
transverse ribs with four valves also of iron attached by hinges.
These valves are so regulated by ropes or chains that they cannot open wider
than 18 degrees and when closed cover the iron frame. The object of the valves
is to assist in keeping it as a sea anchor or rudder submerged and maintain it at
an approximately uniform level. The apparatus has high bolts with rollers to pass
the draw lines made of steel wire or other substance of a like nature by means of
which the inclination of the iron frame and consequently of its valves is adjusted
and the working of the apparatus regulated. Over a block or high bolt with rollers
at each side of the apparatus fixed near the top of the wooden partition at a suitable
distance from the end and rotating vertically when the apparatus is in position
passes a draw line or chain attached to the iron frame above described. By means
of these draw lines or chains the inclination of the iron frame relatively to the
wooden partition can be adjusted and it normally floats at right angles to the same
the other ends of the draw lines passing through horizontal bolts one at either
side of the bows with the draw line in the middle. This completes the invention
as a sea anchor.
For the invention to act as a rudder the steering ropes are reeved through blocks
or other convenient place at either side of the stern of the ship the one on the
starboard and the other on the port side and connected with the steering gear of the
vessel. The centre rope 1 (for better description of my invention) describe as
the trap rope.
Across the stern of the vessel is attached a transverse spar approxi-
mately equal in length to one third of the beam of the vessel properly secured in the
middle and at the sides. To this spar is attached a wire rope or chain on which
runs the block of the trap rope.
In vessels having a square stern the transverse spar may be dispensed with if
desired and the wire rope or chain attached directly to convenient points of the
stern. By means of the trap rope the action of the rudder may be regulated
increasing or diminishing its effectiveness as required-it should be shorter than
the draw lines or wheel rope by about the width of the apparatus causing the
apparatus in consequence to place itself upright in the water at the requisite angle
to the line of the keel. The length of the draw lines must be proportionate to the
height of the poop above the water line-they should be at least three times as

page_text: long as this distance. It is to be noted that the apparatus is submerged in propor-
tion to the length of the draw lines. Moreover the valves influence the submergings
of the apparatus according to. the greater or less angle they can form with their
frames. This completes the invention as a rudder.
For the invention to act as a life raft four steel pontoons are attached to the
wood work of the rudder. Such pontoons being constructed in such a manner so
as to represent seats for the ship and are subdivided so that a supply of provisions
and water can be kept therein. Rails are placed at convenient distances at the
back of the pontoons thus providing a kind of bulwark to the raft. To these rails
there are affixed ordinary rowlocks. There is also a storage place for oars, sails,.
masts &c.
The pontoons are affixed by means of bolts and clamps to the apparatus.
Dated this Ninth day of February 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Saving Life and Property at Sea, Consisting of a Sea
Anchor Rudder and Life Raft Combined.
I YSIDORO ALVAREZ of 80 Selborne Street Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Commission Agent 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 :-
The object of the present application for Letters Patent consists of an improved
sea anchor rudder and life-raft combined and is adapted for use in bauling ships
or disabled steamers head to wind for steering vessels whose ordinary steering gear
has become unserviceable and generally for saving life and property at sea.
This invention consists essentially of a floating construction of planks preferably
of pine or other buoyant wood, preferably rectangular in shape and of a size propor-
tionate to the size of the vessel for which it is required.
The floating construction or body part is strengthened with cross pieces and
provided with eye bolts and sheaves. To the lower edge of the floating construction
à detachable iron frame is hinged, it is approximately the same length as the body
part at the side which adjoins the same and tapering somewhat in front. Its
width is about one third that of the body part and when the apparatus is in the
water the weight of the iron frame tends to maintain the body part in a vertical
position.
The iron frame is constructed with four hinged lids which act as valves, they are
so regulated by wire ropes or chains that they cannot open wider than from 15 to
18 degrees. The object of the valves is to assist in keeping the body part of the
floating construction when employed as a storm anchor or rudder submerged and at
an approximately uniform depth in the water.
The apparatus has two sets of eyebolts and sheaves through which wire ropes
pass and are fastered to draw lines or guys, the inclination of the iron frame and
its valves is regulated from the ship by adjusting the tension on the check line.
The size of the sea anchor or rudder varies according to the size of ship it
is intended for as take for example the length and beam of a ship in feet added
together and the sum amounts to say 50 feet, the size of the sea anchor or rudder
I find most suitable would be 3 feet by 18 inches, increasing the width one foot in
length for every additional 50 feet of length and beam of ship added together, the
depth being always about one half the width, thus a ship whose dimensions when
added as before described equal 400 feet the size of sea anchor or rudder would
be 10 feet by 5 feet. The timber frame may be gradually tapered towards the
edges for combining strength with lightness and is preferably made of two thicknesses
of planks screwed together with suitable iron bars.
The apparatus may also be converted into a life raft by securing light steel

page_text: Referring to the accompanying three sheets of drawings
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the sea anchor or rudder with the four valves
wide open.
Fig. 2 is a plan of same shewing the draw lines or guys in position.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation with the iron frame and valves closed.
Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the iron frame and valves closed & the
guys removed.
Figs. 6 & 7 are views shewing the apparatus in use attached to the stern of a ship
as a sea rudder or anchor.
Figs. 8, 9 & 10 shew the sea rudder or anchor converted into a life raft with the
iron frame and valves removed.
Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 A is a wooden body composed preferably of two thick-
nesses of planks bolted together. B is an iron frame hinged to one of the longer
sides of the body A which is further strengthened by longitudinal bars or kiels o.
The iron frame B may be tapered at its outer end as shewn in Figs. 2 and 4 and is
provided with in this case four hinged valves or vanes C. C' C³ & C³ prevented
from opening too wide by chains represented by the dotted lines Z. Z.
The wooden body A. and iron frame B are connected with the ship by the main
guys H. H and a check line G which are secured by shackles 17, 17 and 18 to the
wire ropes E. E and F. F, they are guided over the rollers 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 & 16
secured to the body A. Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The check line G is also connected to
the short vertical ropes F. F their lower ends being secured to rings X Y on the
iron frame B, its position being regulated by these lines alone for causing the
anchor or rudder to rise or sink in the water. Two ring guides are provided at
the outer corners of the iron frame B through which pass the lower legs of the
guys E. E they being secured by eyebolts a & a to the wooden frame A.
For economy of construction the guys marked E. E E may be made of one
piece of wire rope of a length of about 5 lengths of the apparatus to which
must be added sufficient to make the five splices where the guys join.
To find the lengths of the respective parts or points for the eyes from the central
point G. to where F. F join (suppose the rudder for example to be 10 feet long by
5 feet wide) the length would be 5 feet on each side, from this point to where H
joins would be about 11 feet and from this to the end about 11 feet more.
ropes F have each a length of about 1 times the width of the rudder.
The
The proper position for the two bolts and rollers Nos. 11 & 14 is found to be
1 from end and 20 from side (of length of rudder) the intermediate ones 12 and
15 are of length from each end. 13 and 16 are perpendicularly under these aud
as close as possible to iron frame when closed.
The check line G is provided with a runner that slides along the sparn
which is secured to the ship's stern in any convenient manner, whilst the guy
lines H. H may be attached to the rudder chains, or steering gear.
It will be understood that with respect to the sea anchor or rudder.by varying
the proportions of its size and making the iron frame about one third the width
of the body A and providing four valves C. C¹ C³ & C³, leaving no space for the
water to rush through, it may be of a less size, thus more convenient for bandling
and as effective, also by employing fixed rollers and wire ropes there is less liability
of the lines getting foul of each other when launching.
To use the apparatus as a sea anchor it will be necessary to attach long ropes to
the existing ones at H. H & G.
The side ropes H and H to be brought on board on the port and starboard bows
and made secure to the bits or capstan.
Launch overboard and slack away by the central check line G only until the

page_text: anchor rides at a distance of the vessel's length, but the longer the guys the more
grip will the anchor have in the sea.
The proper immersion can be got by adjusting the length of the central check
line G.
The drift way of the vessel can be regulated by trimming the port or starboard
guys, as desired, this power of control over the ship's movements would prove
invaluable in cases of having to avoid a lee shore.
In preparing the apparatus for use as a rudder, the draw lines or wheel ropes H, H
are passed through the stern of the vessel on the starboard and port sides and
connected with the ordinary steering gear or they may be carried to the winch
paying out to one side and taking in as much on the other.
At the stern of the vessel is attached a transverse spar n Figs. 6 & 7 approxi-
mately equal in length to one third of the beam of the vessel.
To this spar is attached a wire rope 7 on which runs the block of the check
line G. In vessels having a square stern the transverse spar may be dispensed with
if desired and the wire for the block and check line attached directly to convenient
points of the stern. By means of the check line the action of the rudder is regulated
increasing or diminishing its effectiveness as required. The check line should be
shorter than the draw lines by about the width of the apparatus as by this means
the rudder assumes an upright position in the water at the requisite angle to the
line of the vessels keel when in use.
The length of the draw lines must be proportioned to the height of the poop above
the water line. They should be about 3 times as long as this distance. It is to be
noted that the greater the length of the draw lines the more is the apparatus sub-
merged moreover the valves influence the submerging of the apparatus according
to the greater or less angle they form with their frames.
The body part A of the sea anchor or rudder may be converted into a life raft
by removing the iron frame and guys and securing thereto one or more watertight
pontoons as shewn in Figs. 8, 9 & 10. The life raft in this case consists of two
pontocns d d made L shaped in cross section with the ends rounded as shewn in
Fig. 10, they are fixed on the body part of the rudder or anchor A by brackets 100,
which attach to the existing bolts in the rudder, the rudder thus adding to the
buoyancy of the raft and forming invaluable protection for the pontoons from damage
in landing on shore or rocks.
The length of the pontoons is somewhat longer than the length of the body A
but about the same width. The base of the pontoons is made wider than the upper
portion so as to form a floor and sitting room on the upper side, around the outside
of which a kerb 60 and hand rails 40 are secured also the usual mooring or towing
tackle. The body is provided with two stiffening ribs o o which when in use as a
raft form keels, one or more rollers p may be inserted therein to facilitate the
launching of the body overboard.
The pontoons are attached to each other by suitable clasps, hooks or lashings as
may be most convenient.
At each end of the pontoons "bits" 19 are provided for tow-rope or other use.
Thwarts or cross seats 82 are supplied to increase sitting accomodation or for use
of rowers or to support a mast.
To steer the raft an oar may be used or a small rudder constructed similar to
the one hereinbefore described which latter would also serve the purposes of a sea
anchor if needed.
Under ordinary conditions the two pontoons will be on the vessel's or steamer's
deck with their brackets or feet slipped into proper eyes in the deck adjusted to fit
the pontoons or secured by lashings-as most convenient.
In case of need it will take but a few minutes to detach the pontoons from the
deck and affix them in position on top of wooden portion of the rudder as before
described, latch or lash them together and the raft is ready for launching overboard,
the two rollers or runners p in the keels o of the rudder A will greatly facilitate
the operation.

page_text: 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-
-
1. An improved sea anchor or rudder having a main body of wood or other
buoyant material in combination with an iron frame the whole of which is fitted or
blocked with in this case four pivotted valves or vanes for raising or submerging it
more quickly as desired by regulating wire ropes so arranged that the main body
of the apparatus can be made to assume any angle or position in the water whether
used as a sea anchor or as a rudder, constructed arranged and operated substantially
as described.
2. The general arrangement of wire ropes, fixed sheaves or rollers and their
attachments as described and shewn for the purpose specified.
3. In a life raft consisting of the wooden body A say of a sea anchor to which
one or more pontoons are attached and secured for the purpose specified, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 12th day of January 1892
YSIDORO ALVAREZ.