Improved Apparatus for Disengaging Ships' Boats from their Supporting Tackles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1890
Improved Apparatus for Disengaging Ships' Boats from their
Supporting Tackles.
We ALFRED FREDERIO BETHAM Writing Clerk and HENRY BETHAM WOOLNOUGH,
Civil and Mechanical Engineer both of Balmain near Sydney in the Colony of New
South Wales 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 following statement :-
This invention has been specially devised in order that in lowering ships' boats and
upon their evenly floating or the whole of their weight being taken by the water and
upon their weight being relieved from off the whole of the supporting tackles said
boats may be automatically instantaneously and safely disengaged from said
supporting tackles. This improved apparatus is always attached to and forms part of
the bout fittings but at the same time presents no or very little obstruction to all
ordinary movements therein; it is cheaply constructed easily manipulated and is not
likely to get out of order.
This improved apparatus for disengaging ships' boats from their supporting tackles
consists primarily of peculiarly constructed counterbalanced books or catches (to
take into rings or links on the supporting or hoisting and lowering tackles) connected
together so as to have simultaneous movement and adapted when not supporting
weight to take disengaged positions. One of these peculiarly constructed hooks or
catches is fixed in the boat on each end thwart or at convenient points near the stem
and stern and they are connected by suitable levers and rods one to the other.―This
improved apparatus consists secondarily in the particular combination and arrange-
ment of mechanical parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood reference will now be
made to the drawings herewith in which Figure 1 is a plan of a life boat having the
improved disengaging apparatus therein. Figures 2 and 3 are respectively sectional
elevations of similar boats to that shown in Figure 1 the former having a central
longitudinal seat while the latter has only thwarts. Figure 4 is an enlarged cross
section through thwart of boat shewn in Figure 2 and Figure 5 is an end view
of the apparatus shewn in Figure 4-Figure 6 shews cross section through thwart
and Figures 7 and 8 are plan and end view respectively of the disengaging gear in
Figure 6-Figure 9 is a partial section of a boat showing a modified form of
connecting gear in the disengaging apparatus.
Referring first to the simplest form of the disengaging apparatus namely that used
in boats having a central longitudinal seat and shown more particularly in
Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5. A is hook or catch-and B connecting pivot or longitudinal
spindle thereof-C holding brackets-D the boat and E supporting or hoisting and
lowering gear ends-A' is weighted lever end-A fastening pin-B lever or handle-
B shews cranked part for passage of mast-01 fastening bolts-C covering
plate-D thwart-D stay bolts of thwart-D3 slot in thwart-In use when the
boat is free each weighted end A' is in its lowermost position and keeps its hook or
catch A open and in slot D³ just clear of the upper face of the thwart-When the
boat is to be hoisted the tackles are lowered until the ring or link ends E rest on
edges of slots D³ when the boatman grasping turns handle B' and brings the gear
into the positions shewn and simultaneously ongages the hooks A with the tackie
ends E which are then hoisted and taking the weight of the boat retain the gear in
engagement. In lowering the boat the apparatus retains its engaged position until
the whole of the weight of the boat is taken by the water or is otherwise relieved
from off the tackles when the weighted ends A simultaneously and instantaneously
disengage the books A from out of ends E. Should one end of the boat rest or float

page_text: before the other the weight on the hook A' at the still suspended end of the boat
prevents the fall of the weighted lever end A¹ thus preventing the pivot or rod B
from turning and the hooks or catches A at both ends from becoming disengaged
unless simultaneously. The cranked part B² of rod B allows of free movement when
the mast is shipped in the boat but this might be provided for also by a slot in the
mast into which the rod B might be sprang during the shipping of said mast.
Referring now to the form of the disengaging gear for use in boats having no
central longitudinal seat and shewn in Figures 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8-a is hook or
.catch-b longitudinal connecting rod or spindle-c holding brackets - connecting
rod-e the boat-f supporting or hoisting and lowering tackle ends a² is pivot-
a weighted lever ends-a³ lug-a spanner, or key end 6 supporting brackets or
bearings-6 levers c¹ fastening bolts- cover plate-e¹ thwart-e keel e³ slot-In
use when the boat is free the weighted ends a² retain the hooks or catches a open
and in slot e just clear of the upper face of the thwart-When the boat is to be
hoisted the tackles are lowered until the ring or link ends frest on edges of slots e
when the boatmen by means of a handle or key on ends a turn pivots a¹ and
engage the hooks a and the tackle ends and the latter being hoisted the weight of
the boat retains the gear in such engagement. In lowering the hoat the apparatus
retains the engaged positions until the whole of the weight is taken by the water
or otherwise relieved from off the tackles whon the "weighted lever ends a³
simultaneously and automatically disengage the hooks a from out of ends f.
Should one end of the boat rest or float before the other the weight on the
hook a at the still supported or suspended end of the boat prevents the fall of the
weighted levor end a² thus preventing by means of lug a³ connecting rod d lever bª
and longitudinal rod 6 the pivot a at the weight-released end of the boat from
turning and the hooks a from becoming disengaged unless simultaneously..
'
Referring to the modified construction of the connecting gear of the disengaging
hooks the whole of the parts are similar to those lastly described with the exception
that for the connecting rods and levers for ensuring simultaneous movement of the
hooks or catches the following is substituted namely on the pivots a¹ sprocket or
chain wheels g are fixed and on rod or spindle bother sprocket or chain wheels h are
also fixed and around each set of these wheels an endless chain is wound so that any
movement of one pivot will be communicated to the rod b and by it to the other
pivot.
Having now particularly described and explained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
First The improved apparatus for disengaging ships boats from their supporting
tackles consisting essentially of the peculiarly constructed counterbalanced hooks or
catches connected together so as to have simultaneous movement and adapted when
not supporting weight to take disengaged positions substantially as herein described
and explained.
Second In apparatus for disengaging ships' boats from their supporting tackles
the combination and arrangement with hooks or catches counterbalanced to take
disengaged positions when relieved of weight of a continuous spindle or connecting
pivot for ensuring simultaneous movement of said catches or hooks substantially
as herein described and explained.
Third In apparatus for disengaging ships' boats from their supporting tackles the
combination and arrangement with hooks or catches (on or in the thwarts of the boats)
counterbalanced to take disengaged positions when relieved of weight of a longi-
tudinal spindle or rocking bar (on the bottom of the boat) and rod and lever
connections therewith for ensuring simultaneous movement of said catches or hooks
substantially as herein described and explained.
Fourth In apparatus for disengaging ships' boats from their supporting tackles
the combination and arrangement with hooks or catches (on or in the thwarts of said
boats) counterbalanced to take disengaged positions when relieved of weight of a

page_text: longitudinal spindle or rocking bar (on the bottom or other convenient part of the
boat) and sprocket or chain wheels on the pivots of said hooks or catches and on the
said longitudinal spindle with endless chain connection thereon for ensuring simulta-
neous movement of said hooks or catches substantially as herein described and
explained.
Fifth The particular combination and arrangement of mechanical parts forming
improved apparatus for disengaging ships' boats from their tackles substantially as
herein described and explained and as illustrated respectively in Figures 1, 2, 1
and 5, and in Figures 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8, and the modification thereof in Figure 9 of
the drawings.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of October One thousand eight hundred and
Dated this 19th day of December 1889.
A. FREDC. BETHAM.
H. B. WOOLNOUGH.
Abel & Imray,
Agents for the Applicants.