IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LOWERING AND RAISING SHIPS' BOATS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR LOWERING AND RAISING SHIPS' BOATS." A communi-
cation from abroad by Reginald Heber Earle, of Saint John's, Newfoundland,
Jeweller.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th October 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LOWERING AND
RAISING SHIPS' BOATS." [A communication from abroad by Reginald Heber
Earle, of Saint John's, Newfoundland, Jeweller.]
These improvements are designed to facilitate the lowering of boats from vessels
under both ordinary and exceptional circumstances, and to avoid the risk of the
boats being swamped and overturned. Further, the object is to provide for this
purpose an apparatus which shall not occupy unusual space nor prevent the use of
the ordinary davits.
The improved apparatus consists of a swinging frame and gravity cradle for
carrying the boat bodily, and these are combined with davits in such manner that
either can be used independently, all as hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the
apparatus in the lowered position; Figure 2 is a side view looking from inboard of
the apparatus in the raised position; and Figure 3 is a side view showing the
davits in use. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
The apparatus is shown as applied at the forward part of the deck A, but in
practice the position may be as most convenient; B, B, are stands fixed on the
deck at a suitable distance apart, and constructed preferably in the double form
shown, that is, of two stands or plates placed side by side with space between for
the davits; C, C, are davits attached by pivot pins or bolts a to the stands B, so
that they may swing in and out a distance limited by their lower ends taking
[Price Gil 1

page_text: against cross bolts of the stands; b, b, are dogs pivoted on stands B and provided
with handles for their operation to clamp the davits in their inboard or upright
position.
D is the swinging frame consisting of arms c, c, attached at their inner ends by
knuckle-jointed connections & to the side of the vessel and braced by cross bars c.
The arms c are bent to carry their outer ends over upon the deck, and the frame is
of a width to pass between the stands B when raised, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
E is the cradle consisting of hooks f, f, hung by joint pins g to the outer ends of
arms c, and connected at their outer ends by cross bars that form a suitable
support for the boat. On the inner ends of the hooks f there are double eyes k to
which blocks are attached, and from these blocks ropes pass to similar blocks m
on the ends of davits C, C. This tackle serves for raising and lowering the
frame D with the cradle E.
On the stands B levers n are hung, provided with projecting pins n' which
when the levers are raised pass through apertures in the stands and in the arms
c, c, for retaining the frame D in the raised position. On the outer bar e of the
swing frame are slides o, o, provided with pins for engaging apertured lugs p on
the hooks f, so as to retain the cradle in connection with the frame D and prevent
the cradle from swinging out.
In the raised position of the apparatus the boat rests in the cradle, which is
entirely inboard ready for use, and ropes 7 from_eyes_at_the-outside-pass-over-the
-boat-and-are connected to hooks on the lower ends of the levers n.
The move-
ment of raising levers n to lock the frame tightens the ropes, while the reverse
movement relieves the ropes.
The apparatus is operated as follows:-To lower a loaded boat the levers n are
moved out, thereby disengaging the frame D, the slides o are moved inward to
release the cradle E, and the frame then pulled out until it hangs by the ropes
and the boat is clear of the vessel. The frame is then lowered by slacking the
ropes, and as it swings outward the cradle also moves out and the boat is retained
in the level position by gravity. The outward movement of the cradle is assisted
and sudden oscillations prevented by the strain of the ropes attached to the upper
ends of the cradle hooks. As soon as the boat floats it can be readily moved out
of the cradle.
When it is desired to use the swinging frame for towing boats it is to be
lowered with the cradle E fastened back by the slides o, and the boats can then be
attached to the eyes at the ends of arms c.
To use the davits C in the ordinary manner they are to bo moved to their
outboard position, as shown in Figure 3, which is permitted by pressing down the
handles of the dogs b, thereby releasing the dogs from the lower ends of the davits
so that their upper ends can move outward. The blocks i are to be removed from
the hooks on the frame E and connected with chains or eyebolts on the boat,
and the boat thus swung from the davits in the ordinary manner, the cradle E
remaining on deck to receive the boat.
This apparatus is without complicated parts liable to confuse or to get out of order.
It occupies but little space on deck, and being combined with the ordinary davits
the objection that might arise to the use of the swinging frame in crowded streams
and harbors are avoided. The parts of the apparatus are to be made of any
suitable material and constructed to combine lightness and strength.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,―
1st. The apparatus for lowering and raising boats consisting of the fixed
davits C, swinging frame D, and the cradle E, provided with ropes and tackle, all
substantially as shown and described, and combined for operation, as set forth.
2nd. In boat lowering apparatus the swinging frame consisting of the bent
arms c connected together and carrying a suspended cradle at their outer ends in
combination with the davits C, substantially as shown and described.

page_text: 3rd. The gravity cradle E consisting of hooks and cross bars & in combination
with the swinging frame D that is fitted for being raised and lowered from the
vessel, substantially as shown and described.
4th. In boat lowering apparatus the combination of stands B, pivoted davits C,
and the swinging frame D jointed to the side of the vessel, substantially as shown
and described, whereby either the boat or the frame can be suspended from the
davits, as set forth.
5th. The levers n in combination with the stands B and swinging arms c of the
frame D, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6th. The dogs b combined with the stands B and pivoted davits C, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of October, A.D. 1881.