and Lowering Boats therefrom.
Year: 1886

page_text: and Lowering Boats therefrom.
LOUIS CARSTEN NIEBOUR of Kingston in the County of Surrey, Dealer in .
Musical Instruments, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for Improve-
MENTS IN SHIPS DAVITS AND IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING & LOWERING BOATS
THEREFROM to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction & arrangement of
ships' davits & in the apparatus connected therewith for raising & lowering boats
therefrom, whereby a boat can be lowered rapidly at a moments notice on an even
keel & becomes detached or freed directly it takes the water.
My Invention consists, firstly, in forming each davit in two parts, the rear part
being stationary and placed inboard for the stowage of the boat, & the front part
hinged at its lower end to the ship's side, from which it is capable of being swung
outwards or lowered with the boat to the water. At the top of this movable part
of the davit is a swinging jib to the end of which one end of the boat is suspended,
the jib of each pair of davits carrying the boat being swung round when not
required for use until the boat hangs between the movable & stationary part of
the davits. At a convenient height I hinge a band or bridle to the stationary
parts of the davits, which crosses & fits the stem & stern of the boat, having loops
which pass over the top of the stem & stern posts. At the other end of the band
or bridle is fitted a movable pin which secures it to the movable part of the davits,
thus holding the boat perfectly secure.
Secondly, for lowering the front or movable parts of the davits with the boat
suspended therefrom I connect their upper ends by a stay bar & attach to each end
a wire or other rope or chain passing through an eye at the top of the corre-
sponding rear or stationary part of the davits, the two ropes passing together
through one of the said eyes to the barrel of a hand or steam winch or other
purchase as found most suitable. By this arrangment on easing the winch or
other purchase the movable parts of the davits with the suspended boat are
allowed to swing outwards or lower towards the water by their own weight, the
two ropes acting in unison & regulating their descent as required. By hauling on
the ropes with the winch or other purchase, the davits are again raised to an
upright position against the ship's side.

page_text: .
Thirdly, for detaching or freeing the boat directly it takes the water I use two
triangular or other suitably shaped levers or brackets hinged at one of its angles
to the bottom of the boat, one at each end therof. The upright arm or member
of each lever or bracket terminates above in a projecting bolt or finger, arranged
horizontally in the same plane as the lever & passing through two parallel staples
in the boat & through the double hooks attached to the rope or chain by which
the boat is suspended from the davits. Along the bottom of the boat & communi-
cating with each lever I use a bar of metal with a pivot placed at the side of each
end of the said bar, the sockets for which are secured to the bottom of the boat, so
that the weight of the bar may assist or act as the motive power for working the
said levers together. The whole acts in such a manner that whilst the boat
remains suspended from the davits, its weight is carried by the bolts or fingers
which are thereby prevented from leaving the suspending chain & staples; but
directly the boat takes the water & the strain is consequently taken off the
suspension chain, the levers or brackets fall back on their hinges & withdraw the
bolts or fingers from the links of the suspension chains, whereby the boat is
instantly freed & away.
Amongst the advantages of my Invention, are the ease & rapidity with which
the boat can be got out & lowered, & its immediate release from all restraining
tackle the moment it takes the water.

page_text: and Lowering Boats therefrom.
LOUIS CARSTEN NIEBOUR of Kingston in the County of Surrey, Dealer in
Musical Instruments, 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 Improvements in the construction and arrangement of
Ships' Davits and in the apparatus connected therewith for raising and lowering
boats therefrom, whereby a boat can be lowered rapidly at a moments notice on an
even keel, and becomes detached or freed directly it takes the water.
My Invention consists, firstly, in forming each davit in two parts, the rear part
being stationary and placed inboard for the stowage of the boat, and the front part
hinged at its lower end to the ships side, from which it is capable of being swung
outwards or lowered with the boat to the water-At the top of this movable part
of the davit is a swinging jib, to the end of which one end of the boat is suspended,
the two jibs of each pair of davits carrying the boat being swung round, when not
required for use, until the boat hangs between the movable and stationary parts of
the davits. At a convenient height I hinge a band or bridle to the stationary
parts of the davits, which crosses and fits the stem and stern of the boat, having
loops in the centre which pass over the top of the stem and stern posts. At the
other end of the band or bridle, on the one davit, is a finger catch which on
working the boat out becomes free. At the end of the other band or bridle is
fitted a movable pin, which secures it to the movable part of the davits, thus
holding the boat perfectly secure by one pin.
Secondly-For lowering the front or movable parts of the davits with the boat
suspended therefrom, I attach a wire or other rope or chain at (L) passing through
a block (E) and over wheel (D) and passing through a block at the top of the
corresponding rear or stationary part of the davits, the two ropes passing together
through one of the said blocks to the barrel of a hand or steam winch, or other
purchase as found most suitable. By this arrangement on easing the winch or
other purchase, the movable parts of the davits with the suspended boat are
allowed to swing outwards, or lower towards the water by their own weight, the
two ropes acting in unison and regulating their descent as required. By hauling
on the ropes with the winch or other purchase, the davits are again raised to an
upright position against the ship's side.
Thirdly For detaching or freeing the boat directly it takes the water, I use
small levers or shaped catches (F) hinged to the top of a rod or standard (G) the
lower end of which passes through the keel and is secured by a nut. A little
above the keel is fixed to the said rod or standard a plate in which is a pivot
hole (H). Along the keel I use a bar of metal (I) with a pivot placed at the side
of each end (J) working in the said pivot holes-the said bar having an arm at
right angles at each end-and on the top of each arm a hole or loop (K)―The
whole acts in such a manner, that directly the weight is taken off the levers or

page_text: shaped catches the weight of the bar causes the arms to fall away from the said
rods or standards, releasing the small levers or catches simultaneously. Should the
stay (C) be used on the descending davits arriving as in Drawing, the boat will
descend from D until released. On raising the boat, D and E will meet before
the movable parts of the davits ascend. Should the stay not be used, D and E
remain together.
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 ease and rapidity with which the boat can be got out and lowered well
away from the ship's side, and its immediate release from all restraining tackle
the moment it takes the water-lowering by one rope ensuring an even keel-
and Improvements as herein before described and set forth.
Dated this 9th day of October 1886.