IM- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE AND PROPERTY AT SEA, WHICH IM- PROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE LANDING OF MAILS AND PASSENGERS
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Brough at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th April
1873.
I, JOHN BROUGH, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE AND PROPERTY AT SEA, WHICH IM-
PROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE LANDING OF MAILS AND PASSENGERS,"
to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in constructing and using in the manner
herein-after explained life floats or life buoys, which, in case of ship-
wreck may be employed to save the lives of the passengers and also to
save the log book or other valuable property.
A life float constructed according to my Invention consists of a
vessel circular in cross section and of largest diameter at its middle, the
vessel tapering from the middle towards each end. On the under side
of the vessel is a double keel and two or more transverse rollers, and
on the deck of the vessel is a hollow conical mast carrying at its top a
metallic vane or flag capable of turning by the action of the wind. One
or more water-tight lids are made at the top of the vessel by raising

page_text: which persons may enter the life float, which lids may be closed water
tight from within. Tubular ventilators are situated on the deck of the
vessel, which together with the hollow mast afford an ample circulation
of air in the interior of the float. Near one end of the top of the float
is a round house with windows through which the man at the wheel can
gee. The float may be provided with other water-tight windows. In
the interior of the float is a locker suitably divided for provisions, water,
and other necessaries with which the float is always kept stored. On
the deck of the float a bell is hung which by the motion of the float is
kept constantly ringing. A rail is fixed all round the float at or about
the water line to which persons in the water may cling. A cord or life
line passes round the float for a similar purpose. By means of a lamp
and coloured windows at the ends the float shows a coloured light at
night. By means of the double keel and rollers the float is always kept
in its proper position or is "righted" if it becomes temporarily capsized.
The said double keel and rollers facilitate the running of the float onto
the beach. Rockets may be fired through the hollow mast and by
means of lines connected therewith communication may be established
with the shore in case of a wreck near the shore or for the landing of
mails or passengers through the surf.
Instead of suspending the life float from davits of the ordinary con-
struction I employ davits turning upon a horizontal axis. By means of
a lever catch these jointed davits are preserved in their raised position.
By turning down the lever of the said catch the davits become liberated,
turn upon their axis, and the life float is immediately lowered without
confusion or risk of capsizing.
By constructing the life float of smaller size it may be used for
securing the log book of a vessel and articles of value; or it may be
used as a life buoy having a rail all round it at or about the water line
to which persons in the water may cling, the buoy being provided with
vertical cross vanes on its under side to prevent it capsizing and steadying
its motion in a rough sea.