AN IMPROVED LIFE BOAT
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 28th Sept., 1888
I, WILLIAM W. PARKER, of No. 1100 East Broad Street Richmond, Virginia,
United States of North America, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
AN IMPROVED LIFE BOAT to be as follows:-
1st. A new life boat called the Ark Life Boat with a rotary and flexible mast and
sail. The frame of the sail is made of spring steel rotating upon a steel disk located
near the bow of the boat,
2d. A covered boat for three-fourths of its length with a water tight cover attached
to and below the gunwales, securing passengers both from wet and cold, righting
herself instantly if capsized, with water tight sleeves for oars, and steered with .an
oar.

page_text: Improved Life Boat
I WILLIAM W. PARKER, M.D. No. 1100 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia
United States of North America, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
AN IMPROVED LIFE BOAT" and in what manner the same is to be worked or
operated, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, to wit:
1st. A peculiar sail called an "Umbrella Sail," Fig. V, which can be attached to
any ordinary open boat on which a deck 3 or 4 feet long has been laid. The frame
of the sail is of 5 steel ribs, 14, the middle one 14 inches wide and in. thick. The
other are one inch wide and inch thick. These ribs are attached by strong
strap hinges firmly bolted to the disk, 13, which is say 12 x 18 inches and 3 in.
thick. These steel ribs radiate as they leave the disk and boat, and form an arc of
between 4 and 5 feet at their terminal extremity where they are united by a cross
bar, 15. By the passage of a steel boom, 16, through 2 rings in the disk, horizontally
4 feet long and the passage of a rope, 17, or wire from the top of the outer rib down
to this boom, a frame is formed upon which the canvas is spread. This sail will be
about equal to 3 jibs in square feet. The canvas being spread upon this steel frame
makes it the strongest sail known. If blown down it can be raised again. The sail
is worked with hinges upon the steel or wooden disk, which is pivoted and worked
upon a short mast, 12, Fig. 4, that passes through the disk and deck down to the
bottom of the boat, and lodges and rests in a cup, so that with a cross bar, 11, with
ropes attached, 21, passing through this mast, the sail is moved by parties under the
cover to the extent of an arc of 90 degrees, and this enables the sail to be trimmed on
or before the wind.
When not in use the sail lies upon the top of the cover and is raised by a rope,
Fig. 1 & 2-7, passing through a water tight sleeve, 6, attached to a piece of gas
pipe near the bow and is lowered by a rope, 19, in like manner passing to the stern, 10,
of the boat through a water tight sleeve.
The steel ribs of this sail are strengthened by two or more cross steel bars, 18, F, V.
As the sail lies upon the back of the boat in some sort as the wings of a bird, the boat
can be cast into the sea from the sides of a ship without damage to sail or mast. For
a boat 25 feet long the sail should be about 6 × 8 feet.
2d. The boat for three-fourths of its length is covered with a sort of wagon top, 2,
Fig. 1, of canvas or rubber or some other water proof material, made fast under
gunwales, 4, or held there by a movable band passing around the top longitudinally
under the gunwales. The cover is supported above by iron or wooden ribs or stays, 2,
fastened to the body of the boat forming an arch with a radius of 2 or 3 feet from a
line drawn across the top of the boat, giving a pitch of 5 or 6 or more feet under the
cover, according to the size and depth of the boat. This cover is perfectly water
tight. There are two openings in the boat, one near the stern, 26, called a manhole,
and another just in rear of the mast outside the cover, 33. Passengers and provisions

page_text: are admitted through these openings. The one in the rear is located upon an arched
bridge and is held open by a circular iron hoop screwed securely to a bar of iron that
comes from the stern of the boat, and which forms a part of the support of the canvas
cover and is bent at right angles, and passing down is made fast by screws or bolts to
the body of the boat. This iron bar is looped before reaching the body of the boat, so
that the stern oar passes through it. The arched stays or ribs are held in place by
telegraphic wires passing longitudinally from bow to stern. The manholes are secured
from water or air by tight fitting caps in which windows are placed. Two or more
ventilators admit air to the boat when the manholes are closed, and are situated near
the rear manhole, and can be closed by the pilot in an instant both to air and water.
They are of peculiar construction, made of canvas or rubber worked upon the principle
of an inverted finger of a glove with rods passing through their longitudinal diameter.
In the cover are five or more openings or sleeves, water tight, for the passage of oars.
The sleeves taper from the canvas on the boat to which they are attached, to their
terminal extremity. At the stern manhole provision is made for a movable gigger or
fan-sail, so that the boat, if need be, can sail close to the wind. Bulls eyes admit
light in bow and stern, though under the white canvas cover one can see to read a
newspaper. When properly ballasted, the boat will in her lower, or wooden half,
weigh five or six times more than the upper or covered half; and if by possibility she
should capsize, will at once right herself. This has been fully demonstrated by the
model in still water. In agitated water the law of gravity more quickly asserts
itself.
By making the central and top part of the cover movable, after the manner of the
modern hack, this boat can be made valuable at the Life Saving Service.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be worked and operated, I declare that
what I claim is :
1st. A rotary and flexible mast and sail, both to be raised and lowered at will by
parties under the deck or cover of the boat.
2nd. A water proof cover with manholes and oar sleeves, water tight, supported by
iron or wooden ribs or stays, as set forth. Bulls eyes, front and rear, admit light,
though with the canvas cover light is abundant without them. Air is admitted to the
boat by ventilators in the arched top cover, as set forth.
3rd. This boat cannot be swamped in any sea, nor is it probable that when loaded or
ballasted, she can be capsized; if so, she will instantly right herself.
4th. A gigger or fan-sail in the manhole, as set forth.
Dated at Richmond this 30th day of December 1888.
WM. W. PARKER,
Inventor.