Improvements in Appliances for Stowing Boats upon Ships.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1894 ·
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Stowing Boats upon Ships.
I, RICHARD ROPER, of Palace Chambers, 9 Bridge Street, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, Marine Contractor and Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to Improvements in Appliances for Stowing Boats upon
the Rails of Ships.
According to this invention I secure to the rail, skids, or other suitable part of
the ship a number of studs or projections arranged in pairs at such a distance apart
that each pair may receive between it the keel of the boat. The outer stud or
projection of each pair is not rigid as is the inner one but is formed by the upper
end of a short lever pivoted below the rail and projecting through a slot in the
same. The lower ends of all these levers are connected to a bar so that they may
be rocked upon their pivots simultaneously to dip their ends below the level of the
top of the rail. In this position they cease to act as stops and allow of the boat
being moved outward away from the side of the ship. It will be understood that
these outer projections are moved out of action in this manner when it is desired
to release the boat. If preferred the inner studs may be dispensed with and a
longitudinal edge substituted for the same. To the side of the rail, or other
support I secure chocks or other devices for supporting one side of the boat.
Under these I support in bearings a spindle or shaft extending about the length of
the boat to be supported. Over the gunwales of the boat I pass a number of clips
or grippers' consisting of pieces of metal bent in the form of a hook attached to
the end of a rope, cord, or chain. These cords pass downwards and are wound
upon drums mounted upon the shaft or spindle hereinbefore referred to, those
passing from the clips upon the inner side of the boat are wound upon the drums
in the opposite direction to those connected to the outer side of the boat which
pass downwards outside the rail of the ship over guide pulleys and upwards to the
drum. By this arrangement it will be seen that the rotation of the shaft in one
direction tightens up all the ropes and in the other direction loosens them. This
shaft is rotated so as to tighten the ropes when it is desired to clamp the boat
firmly down upon the rail and a pawl is made to engage with a ratchet wheel on
the shaft so as to maintain it in its position. On the pawl being released the ropes
may be slackened by the rotation of the spindle sufficiently to allow of their
disengagement from the gunwales of the boats which may thus be instantly.
liberated in case of any accident.
Dated this 20th d
A 1000

page_text: Improvements in Appliances for Stowing Boats upon Ships.
I, RICHARD ROPER, of Palace Chambers, 9 Bridge Street, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, Marine Contractor and 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 :-
This invention relates to Improvements in Appliances for Stowing Boats upon
the Rails of Ships.
According to this invention I secure to the rail, skids or other suitable part of
the ship, a number of studs or projections arranged in pairs at such a distance
apart that each pair may receive between it the keel of the boat. The outer stud
or projection of each pair is not rigid as is the inner one but is formed by the
upper end of a short lever pivoted below the rail and projecting through a slot in
the same.
The lower ends of all of these levers are connected to a bar so that they
may be rocked upon their pivots simultaneously to dip their ends below the level
of the top of the rail. In this position they cease to act as stops and allow of the
boat being moved outward away from the side of the ship. It will be understood
that these outer projections are moved out of action in this manner when it is
desired to release the boat. If preferred the inner studs may be dispensed with,
and a longitudinal ridge substituted for the same. To the side of the rail or other
support I secure chocks or other devices for supporting one side of the boat.
Under these I support in bearings a spindle or shaft extending about the length
of the boat to be supported. Over the gunwales of the boat I pass a number of
clips or grippers consisting of pieces of metal bent in the form of a hook attached
to the end of a rope, cord, or chain. These cords pass downwards and are wound
upon drums mounted upon the shaft of spindle hereinbefore referred to, those
passing from the clips upon the inner side of the boat are wound upon the drums
in the opposite direction to those connected to the outer side of the boat which
pass downwards outside the rails of the ship over guide pulleys and upwards to
the drum. By this arrangement it will be seen that the rotation of the shaft in
one direction tightens up all the ropes and in the other direction loosens them.
This shaft is rotated so as to tighten the ropes when it is desired to clamp the
boat firmly down upon the rail and a pawl is made to engage with a ratchet wheel
on the shaft so as to maintain it in its position.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood and carried into
practice I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a boat and portion of a ships
rail illustrating the application of my invention; Fig. 2 an end elevation thereof;
and Figs. 3,4 5 and 6 enlarged details.
A number of projections or a longitudinal ridge a (Figs. 3 and 4) is secured to
or projects from the upper surface of the ships rail, skid or other suitable part b,
and between this and the upper ends of a number of studs or levers c, the keel of
the boat is received.
a
These studs or levers e are pivoted to or below the rail b and have their upper
ends projecting through suitable slots therein whilst their lower ends are
connected to a bar & so that they may be simultaneously rocked on their pivots by
means of a handle e, and the tube connected to said bar d and their upper ends
caused to dip below the upper surface of the rail and so release the keel of the
boat.
To the inner side of the ships rail 6 two or more chocks fare provided for supporting
one side of the boat and in bearings in any part of these, and central bearings g
or in bearings independent of said chocks. revolves a shaft h upon which are

page_text: secured a number of drums A. These drums k have wound round them or hitched
on to them in one direction cords connected to the ends of the chains l, connected
by hooks m (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) or the like, to the gunwale of the boat on one side,.
and which where these chains extend from the outer side of the boat, pass round
pulleys (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) secured to the ships deck or rail, whilst similar cords.
connected to chains and hooks on the gunwale on the opposite side of the boat.
are wound round or hitched on to said drum in the opposite direction.
It will thus be seen that by revolving the shaft h by means of handles h¹ or the
like in one direction all the ropes or chains connected to the gunwale of the boat.
will be tightened and the boat so held whilst by revolving said spindle in the
opposite direction, all the ropes or chains will be loosened and the boat conse--
quently freed.
A ratchet wheel is secured on the shaft at any suitable point, and has
gearing with it a pawl p pivoted to one of the chocks for other suitable part, so
as to maintain the shaft in position when it has been revolved to tighten the ropes
and chains.
On the pawl being released the ropes may be slackened by the rotation of the
spindle sufficiently to allow of their disengagement from the gunwale of the boats
which may thus be instantly liberated in case of any accident.
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. The appliance for embracing and holding the keels of boats on ships rails,
skids or the like consisting of fixed projections or ridges a a movable projection or
levers c, substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The appliance for supporting boats on ships rails, skids or the like consisting
essentially of chocks f shaft h drums k chains and hooks m or other suitable
means of connecting the drum to the boats, substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
3. The appliances for stowing boats on board ships substantially as described.
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of February 1894.
65
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.