Improvements in or relating to Vessels Applicable Mainly as Steam Life Boats.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 5th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 10th Aug.,
1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Vessels Applicable Mainly as Steam
Life Boats.
I, JOHN MOODY EMERSON, of 176, Grove Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is designed principally with the object of forming a life boat or
other safety vessel on the four rayed principle so that it can be propelled by steam,
by oars, or by wind, or by two or all of these conjointly; and to possess all the
advantages of the rayed type as regards stability with speed and efficiency, especially
for life-boat purposes.
I form the rayed hull with the two lateral rays shorter than the longitudinal ones.
The hull is designed with lines in such manner that the resistance of the waves shall
be reduced to a minimum.
It is formed preferably in nine watertight compartments by vertical bulk heads
as follows:-
1st. A central oval or rounded-lozenge-shaped compartment with its major axis
fore and aft. In this is preferably the boiler coal bunkers at each side, stoke-hold
and cabin. This compartment is higher than the rest of the vessel, and forms the
quarter deck. Outside and surrounding this, is a rayed bulk head divided into four
at the narrower points by radial bulkheads. In this, at each side ray, is the engine
room also raised above the main deck; preferably to about the height of the thwarts
hereafter mentioned. The remainder of the space above these four compartments is
the main deck, and is provided with thwarts and foot-rest for the rowers, and a
bulwark of right height for the oars to work over comfortably. Beyond these four
compartments are other four formed of the rayed shell and radial bulk-heads at the
narrows between the rays. These each are provided with a man-hole on their curved
top, with a fender of wood or other suitable material, going all round the vessel and
forming the edge or cut water; and lastly a light railing all round to act as a life
rail at the edge of the iron-work. A hinged keel is adjusted by means of chains
.

page_text: passing through pipes in the hull, arranged for the purpose, round the central
compartment. Two bilge keels running fore and aft at a suitable distance from the
hinged keel may be provided for the purpose of providing a protection for the
boat when beached, and also facilitating launching from a carriage. A mast may be
fixed to the central compartment at one end only, or at each end.
In each engine room is an engine or pair of engines driving a screw shaft,
which projects from the lateral ray, and is arranged with a joint so as to.
raise. the screw when the vessel is beached, or proceeding under sail or oars
only, a rudder is fitted to the stern point, and is stayed by a stout bracket and
bearing in the hull.
Some of the advantages of this invention are as follows:
The enormously increased stability caused by the side rays, enable a much greater
weight of canvas to be carried, while the oscillation is reduced greatly. The side rays
being shorter than the main ones, they do not interfere as much as an equal rayed
ship would do in entering into docks and harbours. The waves usually travelling
with a rectilinear front are broken by the point of the ray before coming in contact
with the rest of the vessel, or by the two points of the two adjacent rays before
striking the curved part of the hull between them. The vessel can consequently meet
very rough weather without shipping seas, and thus steam power for driving purposes
may be used.
The sloping part of the hull being beyond the bulwark, the rowlocks can be fixed
thereon, and thus act as outriggers. Pumps may be provided for clearing the
compartments of water.
D
1.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Lie Boats.
1, JOHN MOODY EMERSON, of 176, Grove Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, 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 is designed principally with the object of forming a life boat or
other safety vessel on the four rayed principle, so that it can be propelled by steam,
by oars, or by wind, or by two or all of these conjointly; and to possess all the
advantages of the rayed type as regards stability with speed and efficiency especially
for life-boat purposes.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings of a design for
a life-boat on these lines, in which,
Figure 1 is a plan.
Figures 2 and 3, vertical sections taken at right angles to each other.
Figure 4 section through engines.
Figures 5 and 6, diagrams showing the lines of the vessel.
Like letters denote like parts on the various drawings.
I form the rayed hull with the two lateral rays A, A, shorter than the
longitudinal ones. The bull is designed with lines as illustrated in Figures 5
and 6 in such manner that the resistance of the wave shall be reduced to a
minimum.
It is formed preferably in nine watertight compartments by vertical bulk heads as
follows:-
1st. A central oval or rounded lozenge-shaped compartment B with its major axis
fore and aft. In this is preferably the boiler C coal bunkers D at each side, stoke
hold E and cabin F. This compartment is higher than the rest of the vessel and
forms the quarter deck B'. Outside and surrounding this is a rayed bulkhead G
divided into four at the narrower points by radial bulk-heads H. In this, at each
side ray is the engine room I also raised above the main deck, preferably to about the
height of the thwarts hereafter mentioned. The remainder of the space above these
four compartments is the main deck J, and is provided with thwarts K and foot rest k
for the rowers, and a bulwark L of right height for the oars to work over comfortably.
Beyond these four compartments are other four M. M formed of the rayed shell and
radial bulkheads at the narrows between the rays. These each are provided with a

page_text: man hole N on their curved top with a fender O of wood or other suitable material
going all round the vessel, and forming the edge or cut water, and lastly a light
railing Pall round to act as a life rail at the edge of the iron work. A hinged
keel is adjusted by means of chains R passing through scuppers S in the hull
arranged for the purpose, round the central compartment. These scuppers can be
also used as sluice. pipes. Other sluice pipes may be placed at suitable points
passing from the main deck through the sides of the boat discharging just above the
water line. Two bilge keels T, T, running fore and aft at a suitable distance from
the hinged keel may be provided for the purpose of providing a protection for the
boat when beached, and also for facilitating launching from a carriage.. A mast
may be fixed to the main deck or central compartment at one end only, or at
each end.
In each engine room is an engine or pair of engines driving a screw shaft which
projects from the lateral ray, and is arranged with a joint so as to raise the screw
when the vessel is beached, or proceeding under sail or oars only, a rudder. is fitted
to the stern point, and is stayed by a stout bracket and bearing in the hull.
Some of the advantages of this invention are as follows:-
:―
The enormously increased stability caused by the side rays enable a much greater
weight of canvas to be carried, while the oscillation is reduced greatly. The side
rays being shorter than the main ones. they do not interfere as much as an equal
rayed ship would do in entering into docks and harbours. The waves usually
travelling with a rectilinear front are broken by the point of the ray before coming
in contact with the rest of the vessel, or by the two points of the two adjacent rays
before striking the curved part of the hull between them. The vessel can consequently
meet very rough weather without shipping seas, and thus steam power for driving
purposes may be used.
The sloping part of the hull being beyond the bulwark, the rowlocks can bo
fixed thercon, and thus act as outriggers. Pumps may be provided for clearing the
compartments of water.
One great advantage of this rayed boat as a steam life-boat is that it cannot be
upset, a fact which renders the use of steam possible and safe for life-boat work, a
thing that has been considered heretofore impracticable, owing to ordinary life-boats
being liable to capsize.
As owing to the rays the boat does not ship water, there is no danger to the fires, and
they are not liable to be put out by waves coming inboard.
The light draught of this boat (12 inches to top of keel) with engines, boiler, crew,
15 men, and coal on board (6 tons displacement) and 4 tons additional displacement
at 1 foot 6 inches draught.
Safety in approaching ships, as the rays act as a fender and keep the gunwale from
being pressed under water..
Safety in beaching, or in case of touching on sand banks owing to the boat being
flat floored (flat bottomed).
The two wooden bilge keels (or keelsons) give strength in construction, and protect
the hinged keel when the boat is taking the ground, the hinged keel being previously
drawn up, and the bilge keels also act as runners for the boat when being launched
from a life-boat carriage or ship-way.
And lastly, no care need be taken to keep the boat's head on to the seas. It is a
most essential thing in all other boats not to get beam on to the seas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that [
make no claim for a simple rayed vessel with four equal rays to be used as a floating
light, as such were invented many years ago by other parties, but that what
claim is
1. A life boat or other like vessel having lines such as described, and a pair of
lateral rays A, A, whose longth over all is considerably less than that of

page_text: the boat itself, but yet sufficiently great to break up the waves, substantially as
described.
2. In a rayed vessel, a pair of ongines and propellers one of which is located in
each side of the main ray or hull, substantially as described.
3. In a rayed vessel, the arrangement of bulkheads, substantially as described.
4. The general arrangement of rayed boat, substantially as and for the purposes
described.