Improvements in or relating to the Construction of Unsinkable Ships and Boats, especially applicable to Life Boats, Lightships, and Buoys.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1090
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1898
Date of Application, oth rep., 1090
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1898
Improvements in or relating to the Construction of Unsinkable Ships
and Boats, especially applicable to Life Boats, Lightships, and
Buoys.
I, EDWARD SAMUEL NORRIS, of Baron's Down, Lewes, in the County of Sussex,
Director of Docks Joint Committee, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of ships and boats
and especially of that description of boat known as a life boat. The improve-
ments consist essentially in the construction and adaptation to the said vessels
of cells which may be cylindrical, hexagonal, octagonal, or other suitable shape,
and may be corrugated or plain constructed of a suitable material, such for
instance as waterproof vegetable fibre, or other material having the necessary
buoyancy adapted to given positions in the shell, hull, or fabric of ships and
boats, but not necessarily as a part of the original structure in such ships and
boats. These cells or compartments may be either separate, or connected, or
attached together in such forms as circumstances may require, and may be ren-
dered airtight in any manner desirable as applicable to the structure.
For the purpose of my invention cells or divisions made of metal or of ma-
terials of similar specific gravity will not be applied.
In carrying my invention into effect I adapt the aforesaid cells, or compart-
ments to the said vessels in such a manner and in such proportion corresponding
to the weight of the vessel as a whole and of its component parts, and especially
its keel in particular, and with any excess or limitation of buoyancy upon either
side for the purpose of self-righting the boat, and with due regard to the con-
struction of the vessel for containing or dispensing with ballast, that the said
vessels will by the addition of my invention be rendered practically unsinkable
and retain its buoyancy and stability under all circumstances, the essential
feature of my invention in this regard being the special combination of the keel
with the multicellular compartments aforesaid.
The construction of the said ships, boats, or like vessels, may be of any usual
type, or my invention may be applied to vessels of special form or shape for
special purposes, as for instance to light ships or other special devices.
The construction and adaptation of my invention to vessels will of course be
subject to the special circumstances of each case, and I may considerably vary
the arrangement and construction of the same in accordance with the require-
ments of each special case without departing from the principle of my said
invention.
TR61
1
1909

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Construction of Unsinkable Ships
and Boats, especially applicable to Life Boats, Lightships, and
Buoys.
I, EDWARD SAMUEL NORRIS, of Baron's Down, Lewes, in the County of Sussex,
Director of Docks Joint Committee, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of ships and boats
and especially of that description of boat known as a life-boat. The improve-
ments consist essentially in the construction, and in an entirely novel adaptation
in the arrangement of buoyancy to the said vessels by means of cells which may
be cylindrical, hexagonal, octagonal, or other suitable shape, and may be of
corrugated or plain construction, of a suitable material, such for instance as
waterproof vegetable fibre, or other material having the necessary buoyancy;
adapted to given positions in the shell, hull, or fabric of ships and boats, but
not necessarily as a part of the original structure in such ships and boats. These
cells or compartments may be either separate, or connected, or attached together
in such forms as circumstances may require, and may be rendered airtight in
any manner desirable as applicable to the structure.
For the purpose of my invention cells or divisions made of metal or, of ma-
terials of similar specific gravity will not be applicable.
In carrying my invention into effect I adapt the aforesaid cells, or compart-
ments to the said vessels in such a manner and in such proportion corresponding
to the weight of the vessel as a whole and of its component parts, and especially
its keel in particular, and with any excess or limitation of buoyancy upon either
side for the purpose of self-righting the boat, and with due regard to the con-
struction of the vessel for containing or dispensing with ballast, that the said
vessel will by the addition of my invention be rendered practically unsinkable
and retain its buoyancy and stability under all circumstances, the essential
feature of my invention in this regard being the special combination of the keel
and other parts with the multicellular compartments aforesaid.
The construction of the said ships, boats, or like vessels, may be of any usual
type, or my invention may be applied to vessels of special form or shape for
special purposes, as for instance to light-ships or other special devices.
It will be obvious from the foregoing also that the cellular supporting ap-
paratus of my device will serve to add buoyancy to any floating object, such for
instance, as the body of a man or animal to which it may be attached.
In order more clearly to illustrate my invention I will now refer to the
accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a view from above of a boat provided with my invention.
Figure 2 is a section of the same, and
Figure 3 shews one form of a buoyancy device apart from the object to which
it is to be attached. In these figures A indicates the gunwale of the boat, B the
keel, C the combings over the ends of the boat, forming enclosed chambers in
which are located the cells or tubes D). These tubes are also arranged along each
side of the boat and in other positions above or below the seats as may be con-
venient, and can be attached to the boat or other floating object in any suitable
manner either by a casing or for convenience secured to some flexible fabric,
such for instance as strong canvas which is preferably treated or coated to render
it water and rot-proof.

page_text: It is a feature of my arrangement as applied to life boats and the like that
I can arrange my buoyancy device unsymmetrically with regard to the centre
line of the boat, that is to say, I can render one side of the boat less buoyant
than the other side when the boat is upside down in the water, whilst as long
as it remains in its natural position the centre of gravity is not appreciably
interfered with by the arrangement of the cells. This feature would assist in
making the boat self-righting.
The side belts shewn in Figures 1 and 2 may be formed detachable, so that
in cases of emergency they can be used independently of the use of the boat.
Moreover, extra belts or bands may be supplied, and kept either in the boat or
at convenient points on shipboard, and these belts or straps will at any moment
be available for use by attaching to a boat or as life belts or floating supports
in case of shipwreck or the like.
My apparatus may obviously be applied to rendering buoyant marks, targets,
light-buoys, and other like floating objects, and these thus provided will be
rendered practically unsinkable, because the failure of even a considerable
number of the small cells would not entirely destroy the buoyancy.
The material of which my device is composed is preferably a light waterproof
material, such for instance as waterproofed paper or other impervious and tough
material, or oiled leather or canvas or indiarubber cloth or celluloid, or any
other light durable, and impermeable material, which is of sufficiently light
specific weight to float itself upon water.
I do not consider as within the scope of my invention cells or canisters of
metal or other intrinsically heavy materials.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
I
1. In combination with a floating body, a buoyancy device consisting essen-
tially of a number of air-tight cells or cylinders composed of intrinsically light,
tough, thin, and impervious material, and means for attaching the same firmly
to the floating body.
2. In a life saving vessel, a multicellular buoyancy device composed of a
number of cells of light, tough, thin and impervious material attached to the
vessel unsymmetrically, substantially as described.
3. The improved life boat, substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.,
4. The improved buoyancy device, constructed and operating substantially as
described and illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 26th day of October 1898.
W. P. THOMPSON & CO.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.