IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Lamb, of Southampton, and John White,
of West Cowes, Isle of Wight, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LIFE BOATS."
Sealed the 15th July 1862, and dated the 20th January 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Lamb and John
White at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 20th January 1862.
We, ANDREW LAMB, of Southampton, and JOHN WHITE, of West Cowes,
Isle of Wight, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of sea-
going life boats, by which, in addition to their quality of safety for life-saving
purposes, they are adapted for war purposes, being capable of carrying securely
a piece of ordnance in the bows.
We construct life boats, according to our Invention, with longitudinal
water-tight compartments or air chambers formed on each side of the boat
and extending from stem to stern, or between the bow and stern compart-
ments and carried up to the gunwale; these are combined with bow and stern
water-tight compartments extending from side to side of the boat; these bow
and stern compartments should be only of such a height from the bottom as
to leave a space below the top side of the gunwale, the space thus left being
made available for seats when not designed to be otherwise employed; or in

page_text: certain cases these compartments may at the sides extend above the line of
gunwale, leaving a flat space or recess sufficiently below the line of the
gunwale to enable the weight of persons seated in such recess to be kept as
low as possible. For the purpose of carrying a gun forward, the water-tight
compartment of the bows is is extended in length sufficiently far aft to provide
a suitable bearing for the gun carriage, and to enable the gun to be worked
clear of the mast, and by the additional buoyancy, which is obtained by the
increased capacity of this compartment, the gun may be floated in the event
of the longitudinal water-tight compartments becoming damaged by shot, or
their floatative power otherwise destroyed.
In boats constructed according to our Invention, we insert several air-tight
transverse partitions, bulkheads, or divisions, and introduce into each separate
air-tight chamber or space thus formed, a "water-tight scuttle" or cover. Each
separate chamber thus formed may be employed as a locker for stowing
ammunition, dry provisions, sailor's kit, and for other similar purposes. By
the division of the longitudinal air cases or chambers the safety of the life
boat is increased, and when employed as a gun boat, or when riddled by shot
the stowing in or piercing of one or more compartments will still leave the
buoyancy to float the gun and boat's crew.
"
By our Invention we combine with a man-of-war's pinnace or other boat
armed with a gun all the qualities of a life boat, and so enable ships' boats
thus constructed to carry and work their guns with greater safety. Each of
the divisions of the longitudinal air cases may, in addition to the "water-tight
scuttles on the upper side have water-tight plugs or valves fitted at the
lowest part of each of the divisions of the longitudinal air cases, so that
perfect ventilation of the interior may be ensured when the boat is out of use.
Two or more delivery tubes may be fitted in the bottom of the boat with valves
so constructed as to prevent the admission of water from without and free the boat
from water, with which she may be partly filled from shipping a sea or from
other causes. These tubes may also be availed of for the purpose of taking
soundings through them instead of over the side of the boat, as is usually
done. Tubes may also be so placed with reference to the centre of displacement
of the boat to enable a bower anchor slung under the bottom to be carried
out (say, to a ship in distress), the ropes and slings passing through these tubes.
These latter tubes, as well as the delivery tubes, always serve (independently
of any
other purpose to which they may be put) to supply air to those who
may be confined within in the event of the overturning of the boat.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Andrew Lamb and John White in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 19th July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ANDREW
LAMB, of Southampton, and JOHN WHITE, of West Cowes, Isle of Wight,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Andrew Lamb and John. White, Her special licence that we,
the said Andrew Lamb and John White, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Andrew Lamb and John White, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS,"
upon the condition, amongst others, that we, the said Andrew Lamb and
John White, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our, or one of our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Andrew Lamb and John White, do
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying
Drawing, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of sea-
going life boats, by which, in addition to their quality of safety for life-saving
purposes, they are adapted for war purposes, being capable of carrying securely
a piece of ordnance in the bows.
We construct life boats according to our Invention with longitudinal water-
tight compartments or air chambers formed on each side of the boat, and
extending from stem to stern, or between the bow and stern compartments,
and carried up to the gunwale; these are combined with bow and stern water-

page_text: tight compartments extending from side to side of the boat. These bow and
stern compartments should be only of such a height from the bottom as to
leave a space below the top side of the gunwale, the space thus left being
made available for seats, when not designed to be otherwise employed; or in
certain cases these compartments may at the sides extend above the line of
gunwale, leaving a flat space or recess sufficiently, below the line of the
gunwale to enable the weight of persons seated in such recess to be kept as
low as possible. For the purpose of carrying a gun forward, the water-tight
compartment at the, bows is extended in length, sufficiently far aft to provide a
suitable bearing for the gun carriage, and to enable the gun to be worked
clear of the mast.; and by the additional buoyancy, which is obtained by the
increased capacity of this compartment, the gun may be floated in the event
of the longitudinal water-tight compartments becoming damaged by shot, or
their floatative power otherwise destroyed.
66
In boats constructed according to our Invention, we insert several air-tight
transverse partitions, bulkheads, or divisions, and introduce into each separate
air-tight chamber or space thus formed, a water-tight scuttle" or cover.
Each separate chamber thus formed may be employed as a locker for stowing
ammunition, dry provisions, sailor's kit, and for other similar purposes. By
the division of the longitudinal air cases or chambers, the safety of the life
boat, is increased, and when employed as a gun boat, or when riddled by shot,
the stowing in, or piercing of one or more compartments will still leave the
boat with a sufficient buoyancy to float the gun and boat's crew.
By, our Invention we combine with a man-of-war's pinnace, or other boat
armed with a gun, all the qualities of a life boat, and so enable ships" boats
thus constructed to carry and work their guns, with greater safety. Each of
the divisions of the longitudinal air cases may, in addition to the "water-tight
scuttles" on the upper side, have water-tight plugs or valves fitted at the
lowest part of each of the divisions of the longitudinal air cases, so that perfect
ventilation of the interior may be insured when the boat is, out of use. Two
or more delivery tubes may be fitted in the bottom of the boat, with valves so
constructed as to, prevent the, admission of water from without, and free the
boat from water with which she may be partly filled from shipping a sea, or
from other causes., These tubes may also be availed of for the purpose of
taking soundings through them instead of over the side. of the, boat, as is.
usually done.. Tubes may also be so placed with, reference to the centre of
displacement of the, boat, to enable a bower anchor slung under the bottom to
be carried out to a ship in distress, the ropes and slings passing through these.
tubes. These latter tubes, as well as the delivery tubes, always serve (inde-:

page_text: pendently of any other purpose to which they may be put), to supply air
to those who may be confined within, in the event of the overturning of
the boat.
In the accompanying Drawing we have shown three views of a boat con-
structed according to the present Invention, Figure 1 being a plan, Figure 2,
a longitudinal section, and Figure 3, a transverse section taken amidships of
a thirty-foot cutter.
a, a, are the longitudinal water-tight compartments or air chambers, divided
by means of transverse partitions, bulkheads, or divisions into a series of air-
tight chambers or spaces b, b, which may be employed as lockers; c, c, the
water-tight scuttles or covers; d, the air and water-tight compartment in the
bows, upon which is mounted the gun e and its carriage.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and illustrated the
same by the accompanying Drawing, what we claim is the construction of life
boats, as herein set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John White, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, on behalf of myself and the said Andrew Lamb, this Eighteenth
day of July, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
0 Witness,
AND". LIDDEL,
West Cowes,
Isle of Wight.
JOHN WHITE. (L.S.)