Year: 1899

page_text: 1, FRANK SAMUEL PETT, of 11, Belgrave Gardens, Folkestone Road, Dover,
in the County of Kent; Deputy Harbour Master, Dover Harbour, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in boat lowering and disconnecting gear
relates to gear of that class in which the lower davit block rings are kept on
their respective hooks by means of a chain or wire span more particularly as
described and illustrated in my prior Patents No. 14741 of 1891 and 900u of
1896; and has for its principal object to enable the gear to be attached to boats
by means of chain or wire rope slings.
According to this invention the after lever hook is pivoted between two cheeks
and a shackle is fitted on the pivot pin and is connected to the chain sling fixed
to the keel. The other end of the cheeks is also provided with a shackle con-
nected by a chain to the stern post. The cheeks are sufficiently cut away near
the handle of the lever hook to leave sufficient room for operations by hand or
the handle of the lever may be suitably shaped for this purpose. The retaining
catch for the lever handle is fixed between the cheeks and forms also a distance.
piece and either it or the lever handle is arranged to spring to enable the
handle to pass the catch. The after lever hook is locked against accidental dis-
engagement of the boat by a casting that when in position fills up the space
between the point of the retaining catch and the cheek or plate.
The fore hook is provided near its hook end with a shackle connected by a
chain to the keel and the fore end or shank of the hook is connected by a shackle
and chain to the stem.
In a modification of the after hook in which the lever of the hook is inclined
downwardly the hook is pivoted between two plates and the lower ends of which
are connected by a shackle and chain to the keel. The upper ends of the plates
are attached by a long shackle, (to allow the hook to pivot) and chain to the
stern post.
The lever hook can be fixed in position by means of a safety pin passing
through the two cheeks or by chain lanyard and tackle attached to after thwart.
In certain cases the fore hook may be made to trip instead of the after hook.
When the boat gear fitted with keel bolts, tie rods or slings in combination
with the thwart of the boat, a casting is sunk in flush with after thwart and
is provided with a slot and two lugs.between which the lever hook works, the
lugs forming guides for the boss of the hook.
The pin that the lever hook pivots on passes through the lugs, shackles or
cheeks connecting keel bolt, tie rods or slings together. In this case the cast-
ing and thwart do the work of side steadying lines as used with chain slings.

page_text: This invention also relates to an improved lower davit block ring. The upper
portion of the ring is made in the form of a shackle to enable the same to be
readily shackled on to the eye of the lower davit block.
Dated this 20th day of June 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Boat Lowering and Disconnecting Gear.
I, FRANK SAMUEL PETT, of 11, Belgrave Gardens, Folkestone Road, Dover,
in the County of Kent, England, Deputy Harbour Master, Dover Harbour, 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 follow-
ing statement: —
This invention relates to certain improvements in boat lowering and dis-
connecting gear of that class in which the lower davit block rings are kept on
their respective hooks by means of a chain or wire span as described and illus-.
trated in my prior Patents No. 14741 of 1891 and 9006 of 1896 and has for its
principal object to enable the gear to be attached to boats by means of chain
or wire rope slings so as to avoid all strains upon or lateral support from the
thwarts of the boat.
According to this invention the after lever hook is pivoted between two cheeks
and a shackle is fitted on the pivot pin and is connected to the chain sling
fixed to the keel. The other ends of the cheeks are also provided with a shackle
connected by a chain to the stern post, the cheeks are sufficiently cut away near
the handle of the lever hook to leave sufficient rooni for operations by hand or
the handle of the lever may be suitably shaped for this purpose.
The retaining catch for the lever handle is fixed between the cheeks and
forms also a distance piece and either it or the lever handle is arranged to
spring to enable the handle to pass the catch. The after lever hook is locked
against accidental disengagement of the boat by a casting or part that when
in position fills up the space between the point of the retaining catch and the
check or plate.
The fore hook is provided near its hook end with a shackle connected by a
chain to the keel and the fore end or shank of the hook is connected by a shackle
and chain to the stem.
In a modification of the after hook in which the lever of the hook is inclined
downwardly the hook is pivoted between two cheeks the lower ends of which
are connected by a shackle and chain to the keel. The upper ends of the
cheeks are attached by a long shackle (to allow the hook to pivot) and chain
to the stern post.the lever hook can be kept in position by means of a safety
pin passing through the cheeks or by a chain lanyard and tackle attached to
the after thwart.
In another modification a tumbling lever hook is pivoted between two cheeks
and is retained in position when the boat is engaged by a pivoted retaining
catch a shackle is fitted on the pivot pin and is connected to the chain sling
fixed to the keel, the said pivot pin is provided with an eye at each end and
to these eyes are attached the side steadying lines connecting the apparatus with
the gunwales of the boat the other ends of the cheeks are also provided with a

page_text: shackle connected by chain to the stern post the cheeks are sufficiently cut
away near the handle of the lever hook to leave sufficient room for operations
by hand.
This invention also relates to an improved lower davit block ring, the upper
portion of the ring is made in the form of a shackle to enable the same to be
readily shackled on to the eye of the lower davit block. In the accompanying
sheets of illustrative drawings Fig. I is a sectional elevation of a ship's boat
shewing the improvements in the boat lowering and disengaging gear con-
structed according to this invention Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Figs. 3, 4,
and 5 are side elevation, plan, and end elevation respectively of the after hook
and frame. Figs. 6 and 8 are cross sections of the after hook and frame. Fig. 7
shews elevation of the locking fork for the after hook. Figs. 9 and 10 are eleva-
tion, and plan of the fore hook. Fig. 11 shews detail views of span rings or
shackles. Figs. 12, 13, 13 and 13" in three modifications are detail views of
lower davit block rings. Figs. 14 and 15 are side and end elevation respec-
tively of a modified form of after hook in which the shank or lever of the hook
is inclined downwardly. Figs. 16 and 17 are side elevation and plan of a
modification in which a tumbling hook is pivoted between a framework said
hook being retained in position when the boat is engaged by a pivoted retaining
catch. Figs. 18 and 19 are cross sections of framework abaft the pivoted retain-
ing catch and distance piece respectively Figs. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and
27 shew various modifications in the form of the parts adjacent to the hook e.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 13 the after lever hook e is pivoted
between two cheeks f and a shackle g is fitted on the pivot pin and is connected
to the chain sling he fixed to the keel. The said pivot pin is provided with
an eye gat each end and to these eyes are attached the steadying lines con-
necting the apparatus with the gunwales of the boat. The other ends of the
checks are also provided with a shackle connected by a chain h¹ to the
stern post. The cheeks f are sufficiently cut away near the handle e' of the
lever look e to leave sufficient room for operations by hand.
The retaining catch for the lever handle is fixed between the cheeks and
forms also a distance piece.
The lever handle e is arranged to spring to enable the handle to pass the
catch. The after lever hook is locked against accidental disengagement of the
boat by a forked pin that when in position fills up the space between the
retaining catch and the check or plate.
The fore hook is provided near its hook end with a shackle m connected by
a chain m' to the keel and the fore end of shank of hook s is connected by a
shackle and chain ¹ to the stem.
In a modification of the after hook shewn in Figs. 14 and 15 the hook e is
pivoted between two cheeks f connected at their lower ends by a shackle
and chain to the keel. The upper ends of the plates are attached by a long
shackle (to allow the hook to pivot) and chain 2 to the stern post.
The lever hook can be fixed in position by means of a safety pin passing
through the two plates or by a chain or wire rope lanyard o and tackle attached
to the after thwart.
In certain cases the fore hook may be made to trip as well as the after one.
In a modification of the after hook shewn in Figs. 16, 17, 18, 19 a tumbling
lever hook e is pivoted between two cheeks f and a shackle g is fitted on the
pivot pin and is connected to chain sling h² fixed to the keel the said pivot pin
is provided with an eye g¹ at each end and to these eyes are attached the side
steadying lines connecting the apparatus with the gunwales of the boat.
The other ends of the cheeks f are also provided with a shackle h connected
by chain to the stern post, the cheeks f are sufficiently cut away near the
handle e of the lever hook e to leave sufficient room for operations by hand
or the handle e¹ may be suitably shaped for this purpose, the retaining catch i*

page_text: is pivoted between the cheeks f and is arranged to spring and automatically
engage the end of the handle e of the lever hook e when it comes in contact
with it. The pivoted retaining catch is kept in correct position ready for
engaging by spring and shouldered rivet. The lever handie e¹ of the tumb-
ling lever hook e is locked against accidental disengagement of the boat by
safety pin A distance piece is fitted between the cheeks f, the upper por-
tion of which, is formed with an eye, to act as a fair lead for the lanyard o (of
chain or rope) of the retaining catch when disengaging, one end of the said
lanyard being fast to the eye of the retaining catch the other end being fast to a
safety pin which passes through a hole in the cheeks f to prevent acci-
dental disengagement.
Fig. 20 the handle of the lever hook e is kept above the horizontal plane
of the cheeks f to enable the hook e to be engaged and disengaged by hand.
Fig. 21 the plates in this case at the fore end, are formed above the horizontal
plane of the plates f to enable the lever hook e to be pivoted above the plates f
to leave sufficient room to work the handle of the lever hook.
Fig. 22 the boss of the lever hook is formed on the hook below the horizontal
plane of the hook to enable the lever hook e to be above the plates f and to
give sufficient room for operations by hand when engaging and disengaging.
In the side view Fig. 23 and plan Fig. 24 the lever hook is pivoted between
the plates provision being made for operations by hand in engaging and dis-
engaging by means of a large shackle pivoted or attached to the ends of
cheeks giving sufficient room for the man's hand working the gear.
Fig. 25 the lever of hook e is pivoted between the plates f and a bent
shackle f which shackle is attached to the cheeks or plates on the handle end
giving sufficient room for operations by hand in engaging and disengaging.
Fig. 26 the lever hook e is pivoted between two shackles, shackle h' con-
necting the hook to chain sling to stern post and shackle 2 connecting the hook
to chain sling to the keel. Sufficient room for operations by hand when engag-
ing and disengaging is obtained by the fore and aft sling making a suitable
angle to the horizontal plane of the lever hook, the hook is maintained in posi-
tion by linki and safety pin l.
Fig. 27 the lever hook e is pivoted between two shackles, shackle h² con-
necting the hook to the chain sling that is attached to the keel shackle h¹ con-
necting the hook to the chain sling that is attached to the stern post sufficient
room for operations by hand is obtained by using a hook the boss of which is
formed on the hook below the horizontal plane of the hook.
In engaging the boat to the davit tackle rings, the fore lower davit block
ring is partly rove through the span ring b on the fore end of the span after
which the lower portion of the lower fore davit block ring a is passed over the
rigid hooks in the bow of the boat. The after lower davit block ring a is then
partly rove through the span ring b, on the after part of the span after which
the lower portion of the after lower davit block ring a is placed over the after
lever hook e, the chain or wire rope span is then made taut by pressing down
the handle e¹ until the lever portion of the hook e springs under catch i or as
illustrated in Figs. 16 to 19 by pressing down the handle e' until the pivoted
retaining catch engages with it. By hauling taut the lanyard, or tackle o
control is obtained of the lever hook e, e¹ for adjustment after which the fall or
lanyard is belayed to a cleat on the after thwart. It will be observed on the
boat being engaged the lugs on the rings a prevent the span rings from
slipping too far up the rings a, the span rings b, being prevented from slipping
down the rings a by the angle the lower davit block rings make to the hori-
zontal plane of the boat.
In disengaging the boat, the after lever hook is disengaged from its retaining
catch by means of a side and vertical pull, or in Figs. 14, 15 by letting go the
tackle fall or lanyard o, or in Figs. 16 to 19 by removing the retaining catch
from its vertical position by hauling on the lanyard o, when the after lever

page_text: .
hook will point towards the bow of the boat and it will be found that the stern
of the boat will in all cases take the water first.
The improved construction of parts of an engaging and disengaging gear for
boat raising and lowering apparatus according to my present invention is
characterised by the use of direct flexible connections between the stern & keel
and the fore hook, and the stern post and keel and the after hook without lateral
support from or strain upon the thwarts to maintain the hooks in the normal and
correct angular positions, whilst the weight and strain of the boat and its load is
distributed more equally over the stem, stern post and keel of the boat and by
such means whether the horizontal sling or tie rod is operative or not (through
short spread of the davits) the action of the apparatus is substantially unim-
paired, but separately considered.
I make no claim to such direct flexible means of connecting boat releasing
means to boats.
It being found in practice that where such support is taken from the thwarts
or strain is put on the thwarts those parts are deflected and the correct relative
positions of the hooks to each other and to the other parts of the gear becomes
interfered with and their operation impaired, unless extraordinary precautions
in the way of increased thickness of thwarts or addition of extra supports are
had recourse to..
The hooks in my present improved gear are formed with shanks or prolonga-
tions to which the stern post and stem connections are secured so that, canting
of the hooks out of correct operative positions are prevented.
.
The after hook (or in some cases the fore hook) is as already explained con-
structed with a locking and unlocking tilting lever arm integral with the opera-
tive part of the hook, and hinged to the frame in which the hook and lever
latch parts are mounted and to which the stern (or stem) and keel connections
are secured.
-་
The proper operative positions of the lower davit block rings and the loops
of the connecting span are maintained when in use on the hooks by means of
the shoulders or projections on the said block rings as already referred to.
By the combination of the described means of suspension of the boat directly
from the stern and keel and stem and keel to the fore and after lever hooks
respectively in the system of engagement and disengagement of boat gear
referred to one pattern of such hooks can be used for different lengths of boats or
for different spreads of davits, any necessary adjustments of angle of the lever
hook parts being made by taking out a link from or otherwise altering the length
of the chains or connections between the hook and the boat so as to alter the
working angle of the hook.
In some cases when so desired the fore hook may be made to trip as well as
the after hook.
The following instructions for fitting the gear to ship's boats must be rigidly
adhered to.
1st stretch a line taut fore and aft the boat from the ring bolt in the stem to
ring bolt in stern post this line must be below the level of the gunwales of the
boat, at that part of the boat where the side steadying lines are attached.
Adjust the fore and aft slings to line (so that they are in the same plane)
by shortening or otherwise adjusting the legs of the slings that are attached
to the keel, care being taken to see the slings are free of turns.
The side steadying lines for the after hook must lead more or less forward
and the steadying lines for the fore hook more or less aft by this arrangement
the fore and aft slings of the gear are kept taut and the engaging of the boat to
the davit tackle rings is facilitated.
The span must be so adjusted as to maintain the lower davit block rings a
on and close up to the neck of their respective hooks; span d and lower davit
block rings a making an angle of not more than 135° or less than 120°.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I déclare that what
I claim is:
1st. The use in a connecting and disconnecting mechanism of boat raising and
lowering gear of a pair of lever hooks one or both of which is provided with
locking and unlocking parts said hooks being secured respectively to the stem
and keel, and the stern post and keel by flexible connections and attachments
to support the boat without strain upon or support from the thwarts and so as
to maintain substantially constant the adjusted angle of the operative surfaces
of the hooks relatively to the horizontal plane of the keel and to ensure the
correct retention on said hooks of the engaging and disengaging rings depend-
ing from the lower davit blocks and a flexible span having its loops engaging
the said davit block rings all substantially as and for the purpose set forth and
illustrated by the drawings.
2. The construction and use of the various forms of engaging and releasing
tilting and locking parts of lever hooks e for effecting the connection and dis-
connection of the ring of the lower block of the davit fall in boat lowering and
raising gear of the character referred to substantially as set forth.
3. The construction and use, in a boat lowering and raising apparatus of the
kind referred to of engaging loops or rings as set forth with reference to
Figures 13, 13 and 13 the drawings.
4. The use in combination of the herein described parts of the engaging and
disengaging gear of boat lowering and raising apparatus and the direct flexible
supporting connections to the stem, stern and keel of a boat, without support
from or strain being put upon the thwarts of the boat, substantially described
and shewn by the drawings.