IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO LOWERING, RAISING, AND DISENGAGING SHIPS' BOATS, AND IN APPARATUS: EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Absalom, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE
TO LOWERING, RAISING, AND DISENGAGING SHIPS' BOATS, AND IN APPARATUS:
EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Sealed the 15th December 1874, and dated the 6th July 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William. Absalom.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th July 1874.
I, WILLIAM ABSALOM, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN.
AND APPLICABLE TO LOWERING, RAISING, AND DISENGAGING SHIPS' BOATS, AND IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," to be as follows:-
The first part of this Invention relates to a novel form of davit, and
consists in forming the davit so that it encircles the boat somewhat
after the shape of the letter C, and the under part of the davit forms in
connexion with the davit. the boat chock or rest. In the centre of the

page_text: .
bottom part of the davit it is hinged or pivoted to a suitable bracket or
rest, so arranged that it will allow the davit to rock and fall outboard to
such an extent that the tail or under part of the davit is depressed, and
the head thrown outboard sufficiently to enable the boat to be clear of
the chock or rest formed by the davit. To regulate the action and
work the davit there is fitted underneath the davit and working on the
same bracket a toothed quadrant, one end of which is attached to the
tail of the davit by a link, while the other end gears into a toothed
pinion which actuates the stroke or out and inboard swing of the davit.
This toothed pinion may be actuated by a suitable winch gear fitted to
the bracket carrying the dávit, and a crank handle may extend between
the duplicate davits carrying the boat. The winch gear before mentioned
is fitted with suitable winding drums, which may be used as a purchase
for hauling on the boat tackle. The winches are also fitted with suitable
clutches and disengaging gear, so that they can be used for working the
davits or for hauling on the boat tackle, or for any other purpose
requiring winch power on board ship. The boat is swung from the
davits by a suitable tackle from the head of the davit, the head of the
davit being made to project outboard beyond the centre of keel of
the boat, and also beyond the centre on which the davit works. Lower
down and at a point inboard of the before-mentioned centres the davit
is provided with a second tackle used for steadying the boat when in
position, and also for swinging the boat when not required for use. This
second tackle can also be used for steadying the boat during hoisting,
and to prevent the boat being stoved against the ship's side when
hoisting in a seaway.
Ma
.
The second part of this Invention consists in an improved lowering
tackle, which can be worked by a man in the boat or from the vessel's
deck, as expedient. This improved tackle consists of a rope or line,
which is attached to the davit head, and passes through the end of a
pendant spar just below the davit head. A bight of the rope comes
under the spar, and the end of the rope is again carried up through the
spar and over a single sheave on the davit end. The tackle on the
duplicate davit is fitted in manner similar, passing through the other
end of the pendant spar., The pendant spar is fitted with an internal
rod or shaft provided in its centre with a sheave or pulley, round which
passes a line, which can be worked from the boat or from the ship, and
which causes the internal rod or shaft to jam the tackles at the respective

page_text: ends of the spar, thereby regulating and controlling the descent of the
boat.
The third part of this Invention relates to an improved disengaging.
gear, and consists in fitting in each of the two thwarts or seats of the
boat immediately under the respective davits a split sheave or pulley,.
which sheave or pulley is arranged with projections and recesses, male.
and female, so that when the halves of the split sheave are together.
they form one strong sheave, round which passes the bight of the rope.
before mentioned, which comes under the end of the pendant spar. The
split sheaves are mounted on a horizontal shaft passing fore and aft in.
the boat, and which shaft is provided at each end with a right and left-.
handed screw, which operates the split sheaves before mentioned. The
screw on the shaft is formed with a very coarse pitch, so that the weight
of the boat on the sheaves will cause the shaft to rotate and allow the
sheaves to open out, and thus disengage the boat. The shaft however
is provided at one end with a suitable locking gear, which keeps the
sheaves closed together unless the gear is released. The thwarts before
mentioned are respectively fitted with a shackle to fasten the second or
inner tackle, mentioned in the first part of this Invention as being used
for steadying the boat and for taking the weight off the extreme end of:
the davit.
The horizontal pendant spar between the davits may be used with
advantage for carrying the boat cover, and as the spar is capable of
adjustment in its relative position below the heads of the davits the spar
can thus be raised to tighten the boat cover when required.
:
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Absalom in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ABSALOM, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of July, in the year
of our Lord. One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-.
eighth year of Her reigu, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,:

page_text: "
give and grant unto me, the said William Absalom, Her special licence
that I, the, said William Absalom, my executors, administrators, and-
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Absalom, my exccutors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND APPLICABLE TO LOWERING, RAISING, AND DISENGAGING SHIPS' BOATS, AND IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Absalom, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within' :
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Absalom, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the samo is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the 2
following statement:-
The first part of this Invention relates to a novel form of davit, and
consists in forming the davit so that it encircles the boat somewhat
after the shape of the letter C, and the under part of the davit forms
in connexion with the davit the boat chock or rest. In the centre of
the bottom part of the davit it is hinged or pivoted to a suitable bracket
or rest, so arranged that it will allow the davit to rock and fall outboard
to such an extent that the tail or under part of the davit is depressed,
and the head thrown outboard sufficiently to enable the boat to be clear
of the chock or rest formed by the davit. To regulate the action and a
work the davit there is fitted underneath the davit and working on the
same bracket a toothed quadrant, one end of which is attached to the
tail of the davit by a link, while the other end gears into a toothed
pinion, which actuates the stroke or out and inboard swing of the davit.
This toothed pinion may be actuated by a suitable winch gear fitted to 3
the bracket carrying the davit, and a crank handle may extend between
the duplicate davits carrying the boat. The winch gear before men-
tioned is fitted with suitable winding drums, which may be used as a

page_text: purchase for hauling on the boat tackle. The winches are also fitted
with suitable clutches and disengaging gear, so that they can be used
for working the davits, or. for hauling on the boat tackle, or for any
other purpose requiring winch power on board ship. The boat is swung
from the davits by a suitable tackle from the head of the davit, the
head of the davit being made to project outboard beyond the centre of
keel of the boat, and also beyond the centre on which the davit works.
Lower down, and at a point inboard of the before-mentioned centres, the
davit is provided with a second tackle used for steadying the boat when
in position, and also for swinging the boat when not required for use.
This second tackle can also be used for steadying the boat during
hoisting, and to prevent the boat being stove against the ship's side
when hoisting in a seaway.
The second part of this Invention consists in an improved lowering
tackle, which can be worked by a man in the boat or from the vessel's
deck, as expedient. This improved tackle consists of a rope or line,
which is attached to the davit head, and passes through the end of a
pendant spar just below the davit head. A bight of the rope comes
under the spar, and the end of the rope is again carried up through the
spar and over a single sheave on the davit end. The tackle on the
duplicate davit is fitted in manner similar, passing through the other
end of the pendant spar; the pendant spar is fitted with an internal
rod or shaft provided in its centre with a sheave or pulley, round which
passes a line which can be worked from the boat or from the ship, and
which causes the internal rod or shaft to jam the tackles at the respective
ends of the spar, thereby regulating and controlling the descent of the
boat.
The third part of this Invention relates to an improved disengaging
gear, and consists in fitting in each of the two thwarts or seats of the boat,
immediately under the respective davits, a split sheave or pulley, which
sheave or pulley is arranged with projections and recesses, male and
female, so that when the halves of the split sheave are together they
form one strong sheave, round which passes the bight of the rope before-
Imentioned, which comes under the end of the pendant spar. The split
sheaves are mounted on a horizontal shaft passing fore and aft in the
boat, and which shaft is provided at each end with a right and left-
handed screw, which operates the split sheaves before mentioned. The
screw on the shaft is formed with a very coarse pitch, so that the weight

page_text: of the boat on the sheaves will cause the shaft to rotate, and allow the
sheaves to open out, and thus disengage the boat. The shaft however is
provided at one end with a suitable locking gear, which keeps the
sheaves closed together unless the gear is released. The thwarts before-
mentioned are respectively fitted with a shackle to fasten the second or
nner tackle mentioned in the first part of this Invention as being used
for steadying the boat and for taking the weight off the extreme end of
the davit.
The horizontal pendant spar between the davits may be used with
advantage for carrying the boat cover, and as the spar is capable of
adjustment in its relative position below the heads of the davits the spar
can thus be raised to tighten the boat cover when required.
The before-going being the nature, object, and purposes of this my
Invention, I will now proceed to describe more in detail how the same
may be, carried out into practical effect, and for that purpose I have 1
hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings marked with letters and figures
of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation:-
.>>
Figure 1 is an elevation shown partly in section of apparatus, being a
davit and gear for lowering, raising, and disengaging ships' boats.
Figure 2 is a front view of Figure 1 shown partly in section and 2
broken.off.
Figure 3 is a modification of davit and gear as shown at Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a second modification of davit and gear according to this
Invention.
Figure 5 shows a third modification of davit and gear according to 2
this Invention.
:
Figure 6 shows a modification in construction of davit.
:
☐ Figure 7 is a boat spar shown in section with lowering tackle.
Figure 8 an end view of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a boat spar, showing attachment of boat cover.
The first part of this Invention relates to a novel form of davit, and
consists in forming the davit A so that it encircles the boat B, and the
under part of the dayit forms in connection with the davit a boat chock
or rest. In the centre of the bottom part of the davit A it is hinged or

page_text: pivoted at C to a suitable bracket or rest D, so arranged that it will
allow the davit A to rock and fall outboard to such an extent that the
tail E of the davit is depressed and the head F thrown outboard suffi-
ciently to enable the boat to be clear of 'the chock formed by the under
part of the davit, to which is attached the inboard chock a which carries
a lever and the outboard chock c. To regulate the action and work
the davit there is fitted underneath the davit and working on the same
bracket a toothed quadrant G, one end of which is attached to the tail E
of the davit A by a link H while the other end gears into a toothed
pinion I which actuates the stroke or out and inboard swing of the
davit A. This toothed pinion I may be actuated by a suitable winch
gear fitted to the bracket D, which winch gear may consist of the
toothed wheel J which is on the same shaft as the pinion I. The toothed
wheel J is worked by the pinion K, which is operated by, the crank
handle L. The crank handle Ļ may extend between the duplicate
davits A carrying the boat. The winch gear is fitted with suitable
winding drums M, which may be used as a purchase for hauling on the
boat tackle N. The winches are also fitted with suitable clutches and
disengaging gear so that they can be used for working the davits A or
hauling on the boat tackle N, or for any other purpose requiring winch
power on board ship. The boat B is swung from the davits A by the
tackle N from the head F of the davit A. The head F of the davit A is
made to project outboard beyond the centre of keel of the boat B, as
will be seen upon reference, and also beyond the centre C on which the
davit A works. Lower down the davit A, and at the point O inboard of
the before-mentioned centre C, the davit A is provided with a second
tackle P used for steadying the boat B when in position and also for
This second tackle P can
swinging the boat when not required for use.
also be used for steadying the boat B during hoisting, and to prevent the
boat B being stove in against the ship's side when hoisting in a seaway,
and is adlached to the boat seat by a shackle P¹.
Upon reference to Figure 3 it will be seen that a modification of my.
Invention consists in working the davit A by a chain R which is
attached at one end to the tail E of the davit A and at the other end to
an eye bolt S partly up the davit. The chain R is led over suitable
sheaves T, T¹; T³, and is worked by a chain wheel and winch at U.
A second modification of my Invention consists in hinging the davit
A by a small rest or bracket D to the deck, as shown at Figure 4, a rest

page_text: and chain D' being provided to keep the davit in position, as will be
understood upon reference.
A third modification of my Invention is illustrated at Figure 5, and
consists in using a lever V as a mechanical means for working the davit
outboard or inboard. The lever is connected to the davit by the
chain R which passes over the sheaves T. An out and inboard
tackle W is provided for working the davit. X,." leads" on davit for
boat tackle; Y, cleats for boat tackle; Z, rings for connecting davit to
supplementary inboard tackle if found necessary.
.
The second part of this Invention is illustrated at Figures 7 and 8,
and consists of an improved lowering tackle, being a rope or line d;
which passes through the end of a pendant spar e; a bight of the rope d
comes under the spare and the end is again carried up through the
spare, as shown at d¹, Figure 8. The other end of the spar is fitted in
manner similar, and the rope or line d may be represented by the
tackle N before referred to in the first part of this Specification. The
spar e is provided with a central shaft h which carries a sheave f over
which passes the line K. The shaft being rotated actuates the
nuts m, m, on the respective ends of the shaft; these nuts being
worked by a coarse pitch right and left-handed screw thread as will be
understood. The nuts being operated jam the rope d at either end of
the spar. The rope K it will be seen therefore controls the descent of
the boat, and can be worked from the ship or from the boat as will be
understood.
The third part of this Invention relates to an improved disengaging
gear illustrated at Figures 1 and 2, and consists in fitting in the fore
and aft seats of the boat B immediately under the respective davits A, a
split sheave or pulley n, which sheave or pulley is arranged with pro-
jections and recesses, male and female, so that when the halves of the
split sheave are together they form one strong sheave, as shown at the
after seat of the boat B, illustrated at Figure 2. Round this sheave
passes the bight of the rope N before-mentioned. The split sheaves are
illustrated open at the fore end of the boat B, Figure 2. The split sheaves
are mounted on uprights p and worked by a horizontal shaft & passing
fore and aft in the boat. The shaft & is provided at each end with a
right and left-handed screw of coarse pitch, which operates the uprights p.
and the split sheaves m. The shaft is worked with a wheel t provided
with suitable locking gear.

page_text: In lowering a boat with apparatus according to my Invention the
chain which is provided with a suitable "slip," and shown attached to
the lever b, is first let go. The winch gear is then operated and the
davit thrown outboard, and the boat may then be lowered by the
tackles N and P, and disengaged by the gear described, as will be
understood upon reference.
Having now described the nature, object, and purposes of this my
Invention, and shown how the same may be put into operation, I would
have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact proportions
and precise details of apparatus constructed according to my Invention
as shown in the Drawings, as the same can be considerably altered
without departing from my Invention, but what I claim as my Invention
and secured to be by Letters Patent as aforesaid is,-
Firstly. The improvements in and applicable to lowering and raising
ships' boats consisting of the peculiar form of the davit A being prolonged
or fitted with the tail E, the said davit being mounted on a rest or
bracket, as shown, and worked inboard or outboard by the winch and
quadrant, or the winch and chain, or the lever, substantially as shown
and described in the beforegoing Specification and Drawings.
Secondly. The lowering gear shown and described at Figures 7 and 8
of the accompanying Drawings, substantially as set forth.
Thirdly. The disengaging gear shown and described at Figures 1
and 2 of the accompanying Drawings, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Absalom, have hereunto.
set my hand and scal, this Twenty-eighth day of December,
A.D. 1874.
WILLIAM (L.S.) ABSALOM.