Improvements in Boats or Vessels, Specially Applicable for Use as Life Boats.
Year: 1888

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boats or Vessels, Specially Applicable for Use as
Life Boats.
I, DANIEL M°INTOSH REID of No. 41 Lamont Road, Chelsea, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a self launching and self landing life. boat propelled by
steam power and which is adapted for ordinary life boat service and is also suitable
for use as a life saving steam launch for ocean steam ships.
In one form of life boat constructed according to this invention the hull is formed
with a channel in the centre extending from end to end. In this channel are
arranged the propellers, of which there are two, one on each end of a driving shaft
that extends nearly the whole length of the channel and which is driven by a steam
engine situated at or near the middle of the boat.
One object of this arrangement is to protect these parts from injury, as for instance,
when coming alongside of another vessel, or when running aground.
Arranged in the channel are also four rudders, two at each end, which are adapted
to be drawn by springs into recesses level with the sides of the channel, but which
can be caused by the operation of the steering gear to project and act upon the
current passing through the channel. Each pair of rudders is connected to a rudder
post one end of which extends into the channel. The action of steering with wheel
or tiller may be the same as with ordinary single rudders. When drawn into their
recesses the rudders are protected from injury whilst they offer no resistance to the
passage of the current through the channel.
Along the water line is arranged a series of air or gas tight rubber bags, or tubes,
capable of being inflated, and firmly secured and protected against the action of
rough seas. Their object is to give steadiness and buoyancy to the boat.
Both ends of the boat may be similarly formed the boat being thus able to work
with equal ease in either direction, so that turning becomes unnecessary. Steering
is effected by gear from the forward end, the steersman being in full view of his
course and under cover.
The improved life boat is designed to be launched, or landed, by its own mechanical
power by means of an arrangement of rollers as follows.-One, two or more rollers
on each side are connected by means of bevel, or other gear, with the propeller or
Iriving shaft of the engine when propulsion on land is required, and are disconnected
rom the engine when the boat is afloat. Connection and disconnection may be
CD

page_text: effected by means of a clutch or other suitable mechanism without stopping the
engine. One or more rollers may be arranged between the driving ones. A belt
of india rubber or other suitable material passes over and under the rollers and
forms a back, or large bearing surface, which admits of the boat being launched or
landed, on a shingle or sand beach without difficulty. The tension of the belt may
be regulated by means of a tightening pulley or roller. The driving rollers are
provided with flanges for keeping the belt in position. Two small rollers are
provided at each end of the boat for the purpose of bearing up the forward end of
the boat when landing, but they are raised off the ground when the boat is landed.
The boat may be turned and manevred as desired when moving on land by
disconnecting the driving rollers on either side from the engine.
The lower plates of the compartments or recesses in which the rollers are encased
are arranged to fit closely to the rollers, so that the said compartments may serve as
water ballast chambers. The same purpose may be served by making the rollers
hollow and providing them with suitably closed openings.
Water may be readily admitted to and discharged from these compartments by
means of stop valves.
The rollers and belting partly answer the purpose of a keel.
The boat and the deck (if any) are covered in with a light water tight cover or
super-structure, it may be of steel, in the manner of a "turtle back," fitted with
strong sliding doors and windows.
The main driving shaft and the roller bevel gear shafts work through water tight.
glands from the orank well in the centre of the channel.
The boiler is by preference of the locomotive type, and in its water space is or are
arranged-a-perforated plate or plates in such a manner as to prevent violent
agitation of the water whilst allowing the free escape of steam from the heating
surface to the steam space.
Above the boiler and extending to about the same length is arranged a steam
reservoir which is connected with the boiler, it may be by three passages or ports,
one at each end and one in the centre. In each of these passages or ports are
arranged valves.
The valves of the two end ports are always open except when the water in the
boiler rises to an abnormal height-as will be frequently the case at one end in
rough seas, when the valve at that end will be forced up by the water against its
seat so as to close the passage against the admission of water into the steam reservoir.
The centre port serves as an alternative passage for the steam into the reservoir
in case both the end port valves should be closed by accident, such as for instance by
sticking on their seats, or when the boiler is overcharged with water.
The valve of the centre port shuts from the reservoir side, and is always kept
closed by its own weight except when the pressure in the boiler is higher than that in
the reservoir.
Two or more small boilers may be used instead of a single one of large size.
The steam engine may be of any suitable type, but preferably a twin compound
engine, comprising a pair of high and low pressure cylinders arranged horizontally
on each side of the driving shaft. The pistons of each pair of cylinders are arranged
to work in opposite stroke to each other, the high pressure cylinder exhausting
direct into the low pressure cylinder. By this means any two of the four cylinders
can work the boat independently of the others in case of accident.
The exhaust system employed may be either atmospheric exhaust or surface
condensing or a combination of both.
As will be evident my invention may be carried out in various ways without
departing from its essential characteristics.
Dated this 1st day of June 1888.

page_text: I DANIEL MCINTOSH REID of 41 Lamont Road Chelsea S.W. London, 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:-
My invention consists of improvements in Self-Launching, and Self-Landing Life-
Boats.
My plan is to adapt my system for ordinary Life-Boat service and also as a Steam
Launch for Ocean Steam Ships and various coast services.
The hull is formed with a channel in the centre, extending from end to end, in
which are arranged the propellers, A A (Fig. 2). There are two propellers, one on
each end, of the driving shaft, which extends nearly the full length of the channel
and is worked from the centre-one object of this arrangement to have those vital
and easily damaged parts fully protected from injury in all cases of risk in which
they may be placed as when approaching along side of vessels in distress, or, when
the boat comes into contact with the ground.
There are four helms (two at each end) also arranged in the channel, these when
at rest fall into recesses level with the sides of the channel being drawn into the
recesses by suitably arranged springs, and when being applied they are drawn out as
shewn at B (Fig. 2) and act upon the current passing through the channel. Each
pair of helms are connected with one rudder post, the end of which extends into the
channel and the action of steering with the tiller is the same as with the ordinary
centre helm.
By the helms being thus arranged they are also out of reach of injury, while they
offer no resistance to the rapid passage of the current through the channel.
The boat is exactly the same at both ends, and works with equal case either way,
turning never being necessary.
Steering is effected by gear from the front, the steersman being in full view of his
course, and under cover.
There is an arrangement of rollers by which the boat is launched or landed from
the sea by its own mechanical power (see Fig. 1. & 2.) one or two of these
rollers, on each side, have bevel-gear connection with the propeller shaft
(see D D Fig. 3) when propulsion on land is required, but they are disconnected
when the boat is afloat.-Connection, and disconnection, is effected without inter-
mission in the working of the Engine, which continues working when landing as
when afloat Besides the driving rollers, there are smaller rollers arranged in the
space between the driving ones.
A belt of vulcanized India Rubber, or other suitable material, of suitable strength,
works over and under the rollers, and forins a track ; (see E E Figs. 1. & 2). The

page_text: large bearing surface supplied by this arrangement admits of launching or landing
being effected on a shingle, or sand beach, without difficulty.
The belting can easily be tightened when required by pressing a straining roller
guide upon the upper side between the driving rollers.
Guide flanges for the track belting are employed on the rollers corresponding in
depth with the thickness of the belt.
There are two small rollers at each end for the purpose of bearing up the stem
when landing but they are raised off the ground when the boat has fully landed.
The boat may be turned as required when moving on land by disconnecting the
driving rollers on one side.
The bottom plates of the compartment in which the rollers are encased are arranged
to fit closely to the rollers, and air being excluded, they hold the water with which
they get filled and serve as water ballast chambers, there are conveniently arranged
stop valves by which the chambers can be filled or emptied quickly as required.
The rollers and belting answer the purpose of a keel.
The deck is enclosed by a light cover of suitable material and strength, which is
fitted with suitable sliding doors and windows, and being perfectly water tight the
boat may be run into the roughest sea, or launched from ship board, with perfect
safety. It may also be employed in rendering Tug assistance to vessels, in situations
where ordinary Tug Boats could not venture.
The boiler is horizontal of Locomotive class which admits of its being kept low to
answer in part as ballast. But a system of perforated plates are arranged in the
water space which prevents the violent agitation in the water that would otherwise
take place under the conditions in which Life-boat duty has to be performed, and-
would render the use of this class of boiler impossible.
The movement in the water is sufficiently checked to ensure the heating surfaces
being always covered, while the perforations in the check plates are sufficient to
admit of easy escape of the steam from the heating surface to the steam space.
The addition of a steam reservoir of the following description-can-be-employed-to-
great advantage and forms part of the invention. The reservoir is tubular in form is
arranged close on to the top of the boiler and extends its full length. There are
three passages, or parts of connection between the boiler and the reservoir (one at
each end and one in the centre) to each of which are arranged valves.
The valves of the two end ports (FF Fig. 4) are always open except when the
water rises to an abnormal height-as will frequently be the case at one end in rough
seas when they float on the surface and close the port against the admission of
water into the reservoir (see Fig. 5). The centre port forms an alternative passage
in case both the end port valves should by accident get closed, as when the boiler gets
over charged with water.
The valve H of this port shuts from the reservoir side, and is always shut-but
only from its own weight-except when the boiler pressure is higher than that of the
reservoir.
The use of the reservoir admits a greater depth of water being carried over the
heating surface than would be practicable otherwise, it also admits the employment
of a smaller diameter boiler and ensures the steam being perfectly dry.
To guard against any possible boiler-accident two small boilers, instead of one of
larger size, is advisable. This also admits of a better distribution of the boiler
weight as ballast (see cross section-Fig. 6).
The Engine has four small cylinders one high pressure, and one low pressure is
arranged horizontally on each side of the driving shaft; and the pistons of each pair
of cylinders are arranged to work in opposite stroke to each other; By this means
a steady and effective expansion action is obtained, the high pressure exhaust being
arranged to escape into the low pressure cylinders at the instant required by the low
pressure piston, the force retained by the H. P. exhaust is thus fully utilized while a
corresponding back pressure release is obtained. One other advantage obtained by
this arrangement of cylinders is that any two of the four cylinders can be employed
in working the boat independently of the others in cases of accident to machinery.

page_text: The arrangement also admits of high pressure exhaust receivers being dispensed
with, while the four cranks being set separately on the four quarter centres of the
shaft provides a perfect balance of crank strains.
One boiler and an Engine of two cylinders also answer as in ordinary Launches,
only there is less immunity from accident.
When on duty the boat stands always in readiness at a convenient point on the sea
beach near where its services are likely to be required and as a small crew only is
necessary there is comfortable accommodation for them on board in all weathers,
while the boat serves as a watch tower.
The system is adapted for various coast services besides that of Life Boats,-
Launching, and beaching of deep sea fishing boats, and of surf cargo boats, at open
roadstead harbours, may be mentioned, as examples.
The arrangement also admits of high pressure exhaust receivers being dispensed
with, while the four cranks being set separately on the four quarter centres of the
shaft provides a perfect balance of crank strains.
One boiler and an Engine of two cylinders also answer as in ordinary Launches,
only there is less immunity from accident.
When on duty the boat stands always in readiness at a convenient point on the sea
beach near where its services are likely to be required and as a small crew only is
necessary there is comfortable accommodation for them on board in all weathers,
while the boat serves as a watch tower.
The system is adapted for various coast services besides that of Life Boats,-
Launching, and beaching of deep sea fishing boats, and of surf cargo boats, at open
roadstead harbours, may be mentioned, as examples.
CLAIMS:
(1) The form of hull in having a channel in the centre.
(2) The position of the propellers, and the helms in being arranged in the channel
out of the reach of injury.
(3) The launching rollers and track belting by which the boat is run into sea or
landed from the sea by its own mechanical power.
(4) The form of the deck cover in being designed to cut through heavy seas when
running at high speed.
(5) The arrangement of perforated plates in the water space of the boiler by which
violent agitation of the water from the effects of rough seas is prevented.
(6) The boiler steam reservoir in having specially arranged ports and valves by
which a supply of dry steam is assured under all conditions of service in which the
boat may be employed.
Dated this ist day of March 1889.