Improvements in Life-boats and like Vessels.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1898—Accepted, 20th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Life-boats and like Vessels.
I, LEWIS SMITH, residing at Barrytown, in the County of Duchess, State of
New York, United States of America, Pilot, 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 lifeboats which are especially adapted to the use of the
life saving service, and all sea-going vessels. The object is to provide a life boat
which cannot sink and which will right itself if capsized.
The invention consists of a life boat constructed substantially as hereinafter
described and defined in the claims.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improve-
ment are designated by the same letters of reference in each of the views, and
in which:-
-
Fig. 1, is a top view of a lifeboat constructed in accordance with this invention.
Fig. 2, is a central longitudinal section thereof; and,
Fig. 3, is a central transverse section thereof.
Referring to the drawings, A represents a life boat which is constructed of
any suitable material, such as metal or wood, and may be formed in any desired
manner, but is preferably pointed at each end and otherwise shaped to conform
with the usual style of life boat ordinarily used.
The upper portion of the bow and stern of the boat is provided with a water
tight compartment a which extends only part way downward toward the bottom of
the boat. These compartments are shown as extending in a straight line across
the boat, but it is obvious that they may be made to conform to the curvature
of the sides of the boat or be shaped in any preferred manner.
At
Longitudinal water tight compartments a¹ are also formed on each side of the
boat beginning and terminating at a point a short distance from the bow and
stern compartments. These longitudinal compartments a¹ may be subdivided
by suitable partitions a² if preferred. These longitudinal compartments a¹ extend
from a point on a level with the gunwale of the boat to the bottom thereof.
a suitable point or points between the longitudinal compartments a¹ is arranged
one or more seats 13 which are secured at their ends to the sides of the said longi-
tudinal compartments and are constructed substantially in the shape of an oblong
box which is square in cross section, thus forming additional water tight com-
partments in the centre of the boat."
The transverse compartments B are arranged within the boat and protected at
their ends by the longitudinal partitions a¹ hence although the end compart-
ments a¹ might be damaged so as to fill with water, yet the compartments B form-
ing the seats would remain intact and prevent the sinking of the boat.
A supplemental keel C preferably of lead is secured upon the ordinary keel
to keep the boat in an upright position, or to immediately right the boat if upset.

page_text: 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. A life boat provided with a plurality of transversely arranged water tight
compartments and a plurality of longitudinal water tight compartments, sub-
santially as described."
2. A life boat provided at the bow and stern with a shallow transverse water
tight compartment, longitudinal compartments on each side of said boat extend-
ing to the bottom thereof, and a central transverse compartment secured to the
sides of the longitudinal compartments and serving as a seat, substantially as
described.
3. A life boat provided with a weighted keel and having shallow transverse
water tight compartments at the bow and stern, longitudinal compartments at
the sides extending to the bottom of the boat, all of said compartments being
flush with the gunwale of the boat, and a transverse compartment secured to
the longitudinal compartments and adapted to serve as a seat, substantially as
described.
Dated this 21st day of March 1898
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.