IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE RAFTS APPLICABLE TO SHIPS AND OTHER SEA-GOING VESSELS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Rowe Jolley, of North Repps Rectory,
in the County of Norfolk, Clerk, for the Invention of " IMPROVE-
AAZMA
Voz 11
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Rowe Jolley
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 20th March 1873.
I, WILLIAM ROWE JOLLEY, of North Repps Rectory, in the County
of Norfolk, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE RAFTS APPLICABLE TO SHIPS AND OTHER SEA-GOING
VESSELS," to be as follows:-
My Invention has reference to the construction and use of a life raft
which when fitted to the deck of a vessel can be used for any of the
purposes of a "saloon or deck cabin, but which can also be readily
detached from the said deck when required in order to serve as a covered
"

page_text: raft or floating vessel to save life in the event of a ship foundering or
stranding.
This "saloon" (which is convertible into a life raft) is a strong inde-
pendent structure of wood resting on the upper or main deck of a vessel
in the most convenient position, and it is firmly secured to the deck
perpendicularly by bolts passing through its beams and the beams of the
main deck, and horizontally by a framework of timber around its base
which is fastened to the deck by screw bolts and nuts. These nuts in
the "saloon" floor may be thumb nuts so as to facilitate their removal
when required in order to detach the structure from the deck of a
sinking vessel, and allow it to float off from the same, instead of having
to be released and lowered from the side of a vessel in the ordinary
manner of lowering ships' boats.
The "saloon" when fixed to the deck may be further secured if
required by means of lashings from its top and shores between the frame
around the base of the structure and the side of the vessel.
The fore and aft sides of the "saloon" have a considerable slope
inwards towards the top, and upon the outside of these sloping sides are
or may be fitted closely and fastened securely two inverted buoy boats
constructed as herein-after stated, while on the inside are fitted, fore and
aft, cisterns of galvanized iron or other suitable material of triangular
section which can be used as required either for water or air tanks or
provision lockers. The said buoy boats are constructed with great beam
without sheer of gunwale so as to fit flatly on to the sloping side of the
"
saloon with tanks at the ends and sides and with a removeable deck.
The buoy boats so constructed are available as ordinary life boats, and
can be used as tenders to the "saloon."
"
On all sides of the "saloon" there are windows with dead-lights, also
skylights and bulls eyes on its top, and there are small sliding ventilating
funnels which can be fitted opened or closed from the inside.
entrance to the "saloon "is by means of a single door at either end.
The
In the case of passenger or emigrant ships the deck of the "saloon"
can be extended athwartships by means of temporary beams extending
from the top of the "saloon" to staunchions in the sides of the vessel,
and covered fore and aft with wide planking capable of being easily
shipped or unshipped, and so forming a complete poop deck.

page_text: The dimensions of the "saloon" will be varied as required to adapt
it to different sizes and characters of vessels, and in some cases for smaller
vessels the buoy boats may be dispensed with, the structure having
sufficient floating power without their aid. When the buoy boats are
applied to the "saloon" they act primarily as buoys of a powerful
character, and when the "saloon" is detached from the vessöl they can
bo used as life boats or tenders.
The "saloon" may be propelled and steered if required by means of
the two lug sails of the buoy boats hoisted at the lee side of the
"saloon."
It is however to bo observed that the structure is mainly intended to
form a temporary place of refuge and safety when converted into a
covered life raft by its being detached from the deck of the vessel to
which it had been previously secured, and in such manner to be a means
of saving life in conjunction with the existing ships' boats and the said
buoy boats when they are used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Rowe Jolley in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROWE JOLLEY, of North Repps Rectory, in the County of Norfolk,
Clerk, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Rowe Jolley, Her special licence
that I, the said William Rowe Jolley, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Rowe Jolley, my
executors, 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

page_text: IN LIFE RAFTS APPLICABLE TO SHIPS AND OTHER SEA-GOING VESSELS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Rowe Jolley, 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 calender months next and immediately after the
dato of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Rowe Jolley, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto
annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :—
My Invention of "Improvements in Life Rafts Applicablo to Ships
and other Sea-going Vessels " has reference to the construction and use
of a life raft which when fitted to the deck of a vessel can be used for
any other purposes of a "saloon" or deck cabin, but which can also be
readily detached from the said deck when required in order to serve as a
covered raft or floating vessel to save life in the event of a ship
foundering or stranding.
This "saloon" (which is convertible into a life raft) is a strong inde-
pendent structure of wood, or of wood and iron combined, resting on
the upper or main deck of a vessel in the most convenient position, and
it is firmly secured to the deck perpendicularly by bolts passing through
its beams and the beams of the main deck, and horizontally by a framic-
work of timber around its base, which is fastened to the deck by screw
bolts and nuts. Also there is a row of stump spikes fore and aft along
the centre of the bottom of its floor resembling the spikes of a cricket
shoe. These have no holding power vertically, but fitting closely into
holes in the main deck they greatly promote the horizontal stability of
the structure. These nuts in the "saloon" floor may be thumb nuts so
as to facilitate their removal when required in order to detach the
structure from the deck of a sinking vessel, and allow it to float off from
the same, instead of having to be released and lowered from the side of
a vessel in the ordinary manner of lowering ships' boats.
The "saloon" when fixed to the deck may be further secured if

page_text: required by means of lashings from its top and by shores between the
frame around the base of the structure and the side of the vessel.
The fore and aft sides of the "saloon" have a considerable slope
inwards from the bottom and are curved towards the top, and upon the
outside of those sloping sides are or may be fitted closely and fastened
securely two inverted buoy boats constructed as heroin-after stated.
Should there be no boats fitted to the sides of the saloon the slope of the
sides inwards need not be so great. On the inside of the said sloping
sides are fitted fore and aft cisterns of galvanized iron or other suitable
material of triangular or other section (depending on the interior of the
arrangements when fitted up) which can be used as required cither for
water or air tanks or provision lockers. The buoy boats are constructed
with great beam without sheer of gunwale so as to fit flatly on the
sloping side of the saloon, with tanks at the ends and sides and with a
removeable deck. The buoy boats so constructed are available as
ordinary life boats, and can be used as tenders to the "saloon" if
required.
On all sides of the "saloon" there are windows with dead-lights, also
skylights and bulls cycs on its top, and there are small sliding ventilating
funnels which can be fitted opened or closed from the inside. The
entrance to the "saloon" is by means of a central door at either end or
through a shallow companion on the top.
"
In the case of passenger or emigrant ships the upper deck of the
"saloon
can be extended athwartships by means of temporary beams
extended from the top of the "saloon" to staunchions in the side of
the vessel, and covered fore and aft with wido planking capable of being
casily shipped or unshipped, and so form a complete poop deck. Or
this poop deck can be permanently widened in any ship if necessary by
constructing the "saloon" with its sides sloping inwards from the top
instead of from the bottom.
The dimensions of the "saloon" will be varied as required to adapt it
to different sizes and characters of vessels, and in some cases for smaller
vessels the buoy boats may be dispensed with, the structure having
sufficient floating power without their aid. When the buoy boats aro
applied to the "saloon" they act primarily as buoys of a powerful
character, and when the "saloon" is detached from the vessel they can
be used as life boats or tenders.

page_text: beams instead of into the beams of the main deck of the vessel, thereby
keeping it an independent structure.
The floor beams (represented at B) are intended to be made of strong
wood such as oak or teak. The framework is to be made of T iron or
pine, and the planking and flooring of pine, the whole being fitted and
fastened together in the most approved manner, having due regard to
strength and lightness of construction and the dimensions of the
structure.
A "saloon" constructed in the manner above described will answer
any of the purposes of an ordinary deck house, but instead of being
built on to the ship or vessel as a permanent fixture is so constructed as
to admit of its being readily detached therefrom when necessary, and
form an independent structure for the purpose required, although capable
of being secured to the deck of the ship or vessel vertically and hori
zontally in the manner described.
The "saloon" being formed with curved sides will offer less resistance
to a sea when struck than the perpendicular sides of the ordinary deck
house. It can also in a very short time (say two or three minutes) be
disconnected from the ship or vessel and be converted into a water-tight
raft ready to float on the water as an independent structure, and be
available at once for the safety of passengers and crew.
""
In case of its being desirable, and the vessel has a list or can be made
to take a list, the "saloon can be launched from the ship's deck over
the side which is nearest to the water. Also if by means of scuttling
abaft or by other means the vessel can be lowered by the stern the
"saloon" can be launched over the after end of the vessel. The process
of launching may be carried out by lifting the "saloon" by wedges and
placing studding sail booms or other suitable rollers beneath its floor,
and so easing it down the inclined plane formed by the ship's deck.
Another advantage is that the "saloon" does not add to the construc-
tion or equipment of vessels, but is adapted to utilise existing material
and resources. Also the buoy boats when fastened to the "saloon" form
a part of the structure and come away with it from the sinking vessel,
thus securing their use without the risks of lowering. And when not so
fastened they can be slung on davits over the ship's side in a convenient
position and be used for any of the ordinary purposes of ship's boats.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim
as of my Invention is the construction of life rafts adapted for the
purposes of deck cabins when fixed to ships or vessels, but fitted thereto
in such a manner as to admit of ready disconnection therefrom when
required in order to serve as covered rafts or independent floating vessels
to save life in the event of ships foundering or stranding, such "saloons"
or rafts being constructed in such a manner as to combine the several
advantages herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Rowe Jolley, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Eleventh day of September in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
WILLIAM ROWE JOLLEY. (L.S.)
Witness,
EDMUND LING,
North Repps,
Valuer & Farmer.